Tag: The Planning Center

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Navigating Generational Wealth: How to Give Without Enabling with Ashley Quamme (Ep. 18)

Navigating Generational Wealth: How to Give Without Enabling with Ashley Quamme (Ep. 18)

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Achieving financial stability brings a new set of challenges, especially when it comes to supporting adult children. How do you help without creating dependency, and when does generosity cross the line into enabling?

In this episode of Living Beyond the Numbers, Jude Boudreaux and Caleb Arringdale are joined by Ashley Quamme, LMFT, FBS®, CFT™, Owner and Founder of Beyond The Plan®, for a thoughtful conversation about the emotional and practical sides of intergenerational wealth. Ashley shares strategies for starting money conversations with adult children, the difference between fairness and equality in gifting, and how to build meaningful family traditions that transcend financial resources.

They discuss:

  • Why validation matters when parents feel conflicted about giving to adult children
  • How to start money conversations before jumping into large gifts or financial support
  • The difference between equal and equitable giving when children have different needs
  • When to begin teaching kids about money, investing, and financial responsibility at age-appropriate levels
  • Creating family traditions and legacy through experiences, culture, and connection beyond expensive trips
  • And more!

Connect with Jude Boudreaux CFP®: 

Connect with Caleb Arringdale:

Connect with Ashley Quamme:

About our Guest: 

Ashley Quamme is recognized as a leading voice in financial psychology, with nearly 15 years of experience at the intersection of human behavior and money. Trained as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Financial Behavior Specialist®, her work has been shaped by a deep understanding of how emotions, relationships, and biases influence financial decision-making.

Her expertise has been sought by advisory firms, financial institutions, and professional organizations across North America, where she has guided advisors and leaders in embedding behavioral insights into their systems, conversations, and client strategies. Known for bridging the gap between technical advice and human behavior, Ashley’s approach has been instrumental in transforming client experiences, advisor confidence, and firm-wide impact.

Her work has been featured on leading podcasts, industry conferences, and corporate trainings, where she is consistently recognized for making complex behavioral science both practical and actionable.

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Why Play Still Matters: Lessons From the Game Table (Ep. 17)

Why Play Still Matters: Lessons From the Game Table (Ep. 17)

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Family game nights can do more than bring people together. They can build connections across generations, teach resilience, and create memorable moments that outlast the scoreboard.

In this episode of Living Beyond the Numbers, Jude Boudreaux and Caleb Arringdale are joined by Rob Baner, Tax Advisor, and Abney Fortino, Tax Analyst at The Planning Center, for a fun and surprisingly thoughtful conversation about why play still matters, especially for busy families.

Together, they discuss:

  • How childhood board games influenced their competitive streaks and problem-solving styles
  • Why games offer a meaningful way for families to connect across ages and personalities
  • The rise of modern board gaming and how it brings people together in new ways
  • Practical recommendations from avid gamers on the TPC tax team
  • Lessons families can model through play, including sportsmanship, handling loss, and healthy competition
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Jude Boudreaux CFP®: 

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Connect with Rob Baner:

Connect with Abney Fortino:

About our Guests: 

As a CPA, Rob Baner’s responsibilities focus primarily on taxes and tax matters. Rob joined The Planning Center in 2015, after working with a full-service Quad Cities CPA firm from 2010 to 2015. Though his duties vary based upon the needs of our clients, Rob works collaboratively with our financial planners to provide integrated tax preparation and tax planning services to our clients. It’s important to remember that tax planning is a year-round job and April 15th is simply the culmination of our work. Nothing gives Rob greater satisfaction than knowing that we have helped our clients navigate the maze that is our tax system.

Abney Fortino joined The Planning Center in 2018. Abney’s responsibilities as a tax analyst include tax planning, preparation, and reviewing tax forms for individuals. In addition to those duties, Abney assists with accounting and operations within the company.

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Inside The Trade Desk: How Discipline Builds Financial Confidence with Kevin Olson (Ep. 16)

Inside The Trade Desk: How Discipline Builds Financial Confidence with Kevin Olson (Ep. 16)

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When markets move fast, having a disciplined process matters even more.

In this episode of Living Beyond the Numbers, Jude Boudreaux and Caleb Arringdale sit down with Kevin Olson, Trade Desk Associate at The Planning Center, for a rare behind-the-scenes look at how portfolios are managed day to day and what really happens when markets swing. Together, they unpack how The Planning Center’s investment committee works, why rebalancing is one of the most important (but least understood) parts of long-term investing, and how their systems keep clients focused on what truly matters: peace of mind, not market noise.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

  • The real role of a trade desk and how it supports clients behind the scenes
  • What rebalancing really means and why it protects your portfolio over time
  • How to stay calm and think long term when the headlines get loud
  • The power of process, philosophy, and teamwork in financial decision-making
  • And more!

Connect with Jude Boudreaux CFP®: 

Connect with Caleb Arringdale:

Connect with Kevin Olson:

About our Guest:

Kevin Olson, CFP®, is a Trade Desk Associate at The Planning Center in Moline, where he brings 7 years of investment experience, having previously worked for The Vanguard Group in Scottsdale, Arizona. He is responsible for running our trade desk, which includes daily trades as well as weekly rebalancing of accounts. I also serve as a member of our Investment Committee.

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Designing a Meaningful Retirement with Mike Branham (Ep. 15)

Designing a Meaningful Retirement with Mike Branham (Ep. 15)

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Sometimes the path forward looks more like a winding trail than a straight line.

In this episode, Jude Boudreaux, CFP®, and Caleb Arringdale, EA,  sit down with Michael Branham, CFP®, Shareholder and Senior Financial Planner at The Planning Center’s Alaska office, to talk about career pivots, family priorities, and why retirement isn’t really an ending, it’s a transition into a more intentional way of living.

Mike shares how his journey, from the Midwest to Alaska and from chasing success to defining balance, has shaped his perspective on money, legacy, and fulfillment. Together, they explore what it means to build a financial life that’s resilient, values-driven, and grounded in real life.

Listeners can expect insights on:

  • Navigating major life transitions with clarity and adaptability
  • Redefining retirement as a phase of purpose and reinvention, not withdrawal
  • Understanding your “why” before focusing on “how much”
  • Finding a balance between professional ambition and a meaningful personal life
  • And more!

Connect with Jude Boudreaux CFP®: 

Connect with Caleb Arringdale:

Connect with Mike Branham CFP®:

About our Guest: 

Mike embraces his fiduciary duty to clients and believes that the best path to help you reach your life’s goals is through an integrated planning approach that coordinates each facet of your financial life. We start each engagement with an in-depth conversation about your goals and aspirations. Next, we collaborate to customize a plan that incorporates your resources, current and future, into achieving your life’s dreams. From there, we continue our work together to maintain and adjust your plan as “life happens”, and to help you navigate each of your key personal and career transitions along the way.

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Behind the Scenes: The People Who Keep Your Financial Life Moving (Ep. 14)

Behind the Scenes: The People Who Keep Your Financial Life Moving (Ep. 14)

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When it comes to financial planning, it’s often the behind-the-scenes teamwork that makes everything work seamlessly.

In this episode of Living Beyond the Numbers, Jude Boudreaux and Caleb Arringdale sit down with two of The Planning Center’s client service specialists, Marisa Hardwick (Chicago) and Blake Murphy-Skelley (Moline), to spotlight the people who make sure every account, transfer, and detail is handled with care.

Together, they pull back the curtain on what it really means to serve clients well, solving problems quietly, building trust, and creating a sense of calm even during life’s most stressful moments. From handling RMD season to comforting clients after loss, Marisa and Blake share how empathy, precision, and teamwork bring The Planning Center’s mission to life every day.

What to expect:

  • The role client service specialists play in delivering peace of mind
  • How small details and follow-ups create big client trust
  • What happens behind the scenes during transfers and RMD season
  • The emotional heart of financial service and why it matters

Discover the care, coordination, and human connection that keep your financial life running smoothly.

Connect with Jude Boudreaux CFP®

Connect with Caleb Arringdale:

Connect with Marisa Hardwick:

Connect with Blake Murphy-Skelley:

About our Guests:

As a Client Services Specialist, Marisa Hardwick’s responsibilities include providing administrative support to our financial planners and excellent customer service to our clients. With a background in healthcare services and working in residential life as a Resident Advisor while in college, it has always been a passion of hers to help those in need. Marisa strives to foster a supportive environment for our team, assuring they can depend on her to deliver top-notch service to our clients.

Blake Murphy-Skelley’s responsibility as a Client Services Specialist is to assist all clients of The Planning Center and members of our team. He has been working in customer service since he was 14 years old and is glad to be bringing that knowledge and experience to The Planning Center. Blake wants to provide a safe space for clients to feel comfortable as soon as they walk through the front door.

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Redefining Success: Presence, Family, and the Power of Resilience (Ep. 12)

Redefining Success: Presence, Family, and the Power of Resilience (Ep. 12)

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Every entrepreneur’s journey is filled with twists, failures, resilience, and reinvention. 

Few embody that better than Robert LeBlanc, founder of LeBlanc + Smith, whose 25-year career in hospitality began with a failed record label and evolved into a collection of acclaimed hotels, restaurants, and bars across New Orleans, Nashville, and beyond.

In this episode, Jude Boudreaux and Caleb Arringdale sit down with Robert to explore the lessons learned along the way about presence, parenting, building a values-based company, and raising the next generation to define success for themselves.

Here’s what you can expect:

  • How a “failed” start sparked an entrepreneurial career in hospitality
  • The power of presence and gratitude in both business and family life
  • Teaching children discipline, resilience, and values without losing their freedom to explore
  • Honest conversations about failure, grit, and redefining success beyond money
  • And more!

Connect with Jude Boudreaux CFP®

Connect with Caleb Arringdale:

Connect with Robert LeBlanc

About our Guest:

Robert LeBlanc is the founder and principal of LeBlanc + Smith, a New Orleans-based hospitality group known for creating boutique hotels, restaurants, and bars rooted in authenticity and community. Over the past 25 years, he has grown the company from a small music venture into a multi-city portfolio by combining creativity, resilience, and a values-driven approach. Passionate about presence, gratitude, and mentorship, Robert leads both his family and his business with a belief that true success is measured not in dollars but in relationships, experiences, and impact.

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Cybersecurity Made Simple: Protecting Your Family and Finances with Brett J Lee (Ep. 11)

Cybersecurity Made Simple: Protecting Your Family and Finances with Brett J Lee (Ep. 11)

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Every click, text, and email carries more risk today than ever before.

In this episode of Living Beyond the Numbers, Jude Boudreaux and Caleb Arringdale sit down with Brett J Lee, JD, MBA, CSCP, Chief Compliance Officer at The Planning Center, to unpack the evolving world of cybersecurity and what it means for families, professionals, and firms.

Here’s what you can expect:

  • The biggest online threats facing high-net-worth families and why they’re different
  • Common red flags in phishing emails, texts, and social engineering attempts
  • Practical steps you can take today to strengthen your online safety
  • How The Planning Center safeguards client information and verifies identity
  • And more!

Connect with Jude Boudreaux CFP®: 

Connect with Caleb Arringdale:

Connect with Brett J Lee:

About our Guest:

In Brett J Lee’s role at The Planning Center, he strives to protect all stakeholders by cultivating an environment that allows all to feel safe and secure. By promoting an attitude of continuous learning, protecting the essence of the organization’s mission, values, and culture, and nurturing the firm through expertise and education, Brett navigates the organization through complex legal and regulatory environments in the name of protecting TPC and our clients.

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How a CFO Built a Career Around Life, Not Just Work with Amy Tessmer (Ep. 9)

How a CFO Built a Career Around Life, Not Just Work with Amy Tessmer (Ep. 9)

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What does it mean to lead with both confidence and compassion, especially in a numbers-first industry? 

In this episode of Living Beyond the Numbers, Jude Boudreaux and Caleb Arringdale sit down with Amy Tessmer, CFO of The Planning Center, to explore how values-driven leadership, intentional balance, and quiet influence are reshaping the financial services landscape. Amy opens up about walking away from the CPA track, why she embraced a flexible schedule even in an executive role, and how financial decision-making becomes more powerful when it’s grounded in personal purpose. She also discusses how women in leadership can become visible examples for others, even when they’re not trying to be.

What you can expect from this episode:

  • What CFOs really do (and why it’s not just about spreadsheets)
  • Why Amy rejected the traditional partnership track in accounting
  • How flexible schedules can unlock high-performance leadership
  • Practical advice for professionals seeking more alignment in their work
  • And more!

Connect with Jude Boudreaux CFP®: 

Connect with Caleb Arringdale:

Connect with Amy Tessmer:

About our Guest: 

Amy Tessmer is involved in overseeing the accounting function, reviewing financial information, and planning and forecasting. Prior to joining The Planning Center, she spent more than a decade working for CPA firms as a financial statement auditor. Amy loves her role because she gets the opportunity to support the operations of the company so it can continue to grow and impact the lives of more families and individuals across the country.

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Finding Your New Normal: Planning Through Life’s Biggest Transitions with Michelle Matom (Ep. 7)

Finding Your New Normal: Planning Through Life’s Biggest Transitions with Michelle Matom (Ep. 7)

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Some seasons of life arrive suddenly, others build slowly. Either way, change can feel chaotic.

In this conversation, The Planning Center partner Michelle Matom CFP®, EA, CeFT joins Jude Boudreaux and Caleb Arringdale to share how she helps clients move from uncertainty to a grounded “new normal.” You’ll hear why big decisions can wait, how a decision-free zone brings breathing room, and what it really takes to navigate transitions like divorce, widowhood, sudden wealth, and retirement. Expect practical language you can use, gentle structure for hard days, and honest stories from the work of walking with clients through change.

What to expect:

  • The four stages of transition and why “passage” takes time
  • Creating a decision-free zone that protects you from regret
  • Retirement identity, cash-flow rhythms, and mini-experiments
  • The role of values in rebuilding what comes next
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Jude Boudreaux CFP®: 

Connect with Caleb Arringdale:

Connect with Michelle Matom:

About our Guest: 

Michelle Matom, CFP®, EA, CeFT®, is a Senior Financial Planner at The Planning Center. Her most important responsibility as a partner is to help our clients achieve their financial goals. On any given day, you will find Michelle focusing on financial planning, tax strategies and reviews, and transition planning, which helps clients for the inevitable ups and downs in life, for better or worse. In addition, Michelle works with the rest of our team to create more efficient client service systems and processes.

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From History to Legacy: How The Planning Center Builds for the Future with Eric Kies (Ep. 6)

From History to Legacy: How The Planning Center Builds for the Future with Eric Kies (Ep. 6)

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When a firm chooses people over ego, everything changes.

In this conversation, CEO Eric Kies joins Jude Boudreaux and Caleb Arringdale to share how The Planning Center shifted from individual silos to an ensemble practice where clients are served by a team, not a single advisor. They talk candidly about investing in “soft” skills like communication, coaching, and retreats, why that’s actually the hard work, and how a 50-year vision creates stability for families across generations. You’ll hear stories about building systems, giving up control, and the human moments that money can’t solve, but great planning can hold.

What to expect:

  • Ensemble vs. siloed practices in plain language
  • The 50-year sustainability mindset
  • Why culture work beats quick wins
  • AI as a tool, not a substitute for real connection
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Jude Boudreaux CFP®: 

Connect with Caleb Arringdale:

Connect with Eric Kies:

About our Guest: 

As the president of The Planning Center, Eric Kies is responsible for the daily management of the firm. Eric’s long-term goal for the firm is to continue building a team of talented financial planners and staff who are ready to serve successive generations of families. He wants our firm and its lead planners to be a resource in the community that people can turn to and trust for solutions to their problems. In Eric’s work with clients, his focus is on working with business owners and executives with complex planning needs and goals, such as those with significant or irregular incomes.

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