The Long Game

Thomas Kopelman
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Sep 26, 2025 • 38min

From Corporate Life to Running Your Own Business (with Zach Ashburn, CFP®, EA, AFC®)

In this episode, I'm joined by Zach Ashburn to break down the journey of transitioning from corporate life to entrepreneurship. Zach specializes in corporate exit planning and shares how professionals can leverage their skills to thrive independently. Some highlights:The golden age of entrepreneurship and the rise of specialized consultantsCommon triggers for leaving corporate jobsThe significance of cash management and financial planning for new business ownersStrategies for optimizing tax situations during low-income yearsThe importance of finding the right financial advisor for your unique needs-------✅ Financial planning for 30-50 year old entrepreneurs: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allstreetwealth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠✅ My personal blog & newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thomaskopelman.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Disclaimer: None of this should be seen as financial advice. It is just for informational purposes.
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Sep 19, 2025 • 29min

Selling Your Business: Why ESOPs Might Be Your Best Option (ft. Wes Gray & Doug Pugliese)

In this episode, I'm joined by Wes and Doug from Alpha Architect to dive deep into the world of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). We talk about the options for selling a business, like selling to competitors or private equity, and break down the unique benefits of ESOPs. Some highlights:What is an ESOP and how does it function?Tax benefits for business owners and employeesWho is a good candidate for an ESOP?Real-life examples and success stories-------✅ Financial planning for 30-50 year old entrepreneurs: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allstreetwealth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠✅ My personal blog & newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thomaskopelman.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Disclaimer: None of this should be seen as financial advice. It is just for informational purposes.
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Sep 12, 2025 • 30min

Managing Concentrated Stock Positions (with Ben Lake, CFA®, CFP®)

In this episode, I'm joined by Benjamin Lake, an advisor at Composition Wealth. If you own a significant amount of stock from your employer or have a concentrated investment, this episode is for you. We break down:The importance of having a clear financial planOptions-based strategies (like covered calls and collars)Charitable strategies to reduce capital gains taxesDirect indexing and long-short strategies for tax efficiencyExchange funds and Opportunity Zone funds as diversification tools-----------✅ Financial planning for 30-50 year old entrepreneurs: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allstreetwealth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠✅ My personal blog & newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thomaskopelman.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Disclaimer: None of this should be seen as financial advice. It is just for informational purposes.
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Sep 5, 2025 • 31min

Donating Private Assets to a Donor Advised Fund (with Brad Caswell)

In this episode, I'm joined joined by Brad Caswell, an expert in the world of Donor Advised Funds (DAFs). He served as the Chief Operating Officer of Vanguard Charitable for 12 years, and now as a consultant helping organizations and individuals navigate the complexities of charitable giving. Some highlights from the episode:The benefits of using DAFs (including tax advantages and the ability to donate complex assets like real estate)The process of donating private assets and how to maximize your charitable contributionsHow to strategically time your donations to align with life events (such as selling a business or receiving an inheritance)To find Brad: Charitable Solutions LLC-------------✅ Financial planning for 30-50 year old entrepreneurs: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allstreetwealth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠✅ My personal blog & newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thomaskopelman.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Disclaimer: None of this should be seen as financial advice. It is just for informational purposes.
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Aug 29, 2025 • 22min

Stock vs Asset Sale: Considerations for Business Sale (with Chad Huebsch, EA, CTP)

In this episode, I'm joined by tax expert Chad Huebsch for a deep dive into the difference between stock and asset sales. If you're a business owner considering selling your business, understanding these two types of sales is essential, as they have significant tax implications. You'll learn about:How different industries approach these salesThe significance of goodwill in business transactionsPlanning strategies to maximize your after-tax proceedsThe hybrid 338(h)(10) election and its benefitsThe importance of having solid financials before selling-------------✅ Financial planning for 30-50 year old entrepreneurs: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allstreetwealth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠✅ My personal blog & newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thomaskopelman.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Disclaimer: None of this should be seen as financial advice. It is just for informational purposes.
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Aug 22, 2025 • 24min

Financial Planning from 30-50 Years Old: Key Decisions to Get Right

In this episode, we dive deep into financial planning for individuals in their 30s-50s. We break down the unique challenges & opportunities that start to come up during this stage of life, including:Navigating cash flow and lifestyle creepMaking informed housing decisions in today's marketBalancing family responsibilities while planning for the futureThe importance of education funding and estate planningStrategies for effective investment and risk management-------------✅ Financial planning for 30-50 year old entrepreneurs: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allstreetwealth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠✅ My personal blog & newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thomaskopelman.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Disclaimer: None of this should be seen as financial advice. It is just for informational purposes.
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Aug 15, 2025 • 34min

IULs: How They're Incorrectly Sold & Used (with Robert Rikard)

In this episode, I'm joined by Robert Rikard, a lawyer and partner at the Investor Loss Center, to discuss the controversial world of Index Universal Life (IUL) insurance. With the rise of social media influencers promoting IULs, many people are confused and misinformed about these products.He explains how many agents misrepresent these products, often targeting middle America with unrealistic promises of tax-free retirement income. Some highlights from the episode:The rise of IULs and the misinformation surrounding themThe commission structure that incentivizes agents to sell IULsReal-life case studies of clients who have suffered significant lossesAlternatives to IULs that may be more suitable for average investorsWebsite: https://www.investorlosscenter.comLinkedIn-------------✅ Financial planning for 30-50 year old entrepreneurs: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allstreetwealth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠✅ My personal blog & newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thomaskopelman.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Disclaimer: None of this should be seen as financial advice. It is just for informational purposes.
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Aug 8, 2025 • 27min

SBA Loans Explained (with Matthias Smith)

In this episode, I sit down with Matthias Smith (founder and owner of Pioneer Capital Advisory) a brokerage firm specializing in SBA loans. We talk about:- The different types of loans available for purchasing a business- What an SBA loan is and how it works- The importance of personal guarantees and life insurance in the loan process- Common misconceptions about SBA loans- Tips for prospective business buyers on preparing for the loan processConnect with Matthias:Email – matthias@pioneercap.comLinkedIn – Matthias SmithTwitter – @SBA_Matthias-------✅ Financial planning for 30-50 year old entrepreneurs: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allstreetwealth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠✅ My personal blog & newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thomaskopelman.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Disclaimer: None of this should be seen as financial advice. It is just for informational purposes.
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Aug 1, 2025 • 31min

Planning for an IPO (with Mark Cecchini, CFP®)

In this episode, I'm joined by Mark Cecchini, CFP® to discuss the intricacies of planning for an IPO. As the window opens up again, many employees are facing similar situations. We dive deep into the essential steps for preparing for an IPO, including:Understanding the difference between single-trigger and double-trigger RSUsThe importance of having a solid financial plan and clear goalsStrategies for managing equity concentration and diversificationTax planning considerations before and after an IPOThe significance of Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) eligibility--------✅ Financial planning for 30-50 year old entrepreneurs: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allstreetwealth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠✅ My personal blog & newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thomaskopelman.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Disclaimer: None of this should be seen as financial advice. It is just for informational purposes.
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Jul 25, 2025 • 15min

Answering Listener-Submitted Questions

Curious about retirement accounts? Dive into the differences between Roth and traditional IRAs and learn why solo 401(k)s might win over SEP IRAs for entrepreneurs. Discover savvy tax reduction strategies for W-2 employees and weigh the decision of paying off that mortgage versus investing. The conversation emphasizes a long-term view on finances, helping you balance emotional choices with logical financial strategies.

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