Episodes

Retirement is supposed to be a finish line, but for a lot of people, it’s really a transition, identity, purpose, relationships, and what you do with your time when the calendar finally opens up. In this episode, Jude Boudreaux and Caleb Arringdale discuss retirement, legacy, and what it looks like to build a people-first planning career with John Longstaff, founder of The Planning Center’s Fresno office. John shares his unexpected path from pharmacy to financial planning, his leadership experie...

What happens when financial planning stops being about products and starts being about people, trust, and long-term relationships? This episode pulls back the curtain on what it really means to live beyond the numbers. In this episode, Jude Boudreaux and Caleb Arringdale sit down with Marty Kurtz, founder of The Planning Center Moline office, and senior planner Matt Sivertsen to reflect on the firm’s origins, Marty’s retirement, and the philosophy that shaped decades of client relationships. The...

Money decisions are rarely about numbers alone. They are shaped by emotions, life transitions, and the relationships that surround them, often long before logic enters the conversation. In this episode, Jude Boudreaux and Caleb Arringdale sit down with Cicily Maton, Partner at The Planning Center, to explore why meaningful financial planning starts with understanding people first. Cicily reflects on her decades-long career, her role in shaping a values-based planning approach, and what retiremen...

What does it mean to grow with a firm and a family over 22 years? In this heart-centered conversation, host Jude Boudreaux, CFP®, and co-host Caleb Arringdale, EA, sit down with senior planner and shareholder Matt Sivertsen, CFP®, CeFT®, to explore a personal journey that began with music and evolved into a vocation of mentorship, leadership, and financial guidance. From $8-an-hour beginnings to becoming Director of Financial Planning at The Planning Center, Matt shares how the mindset of a musi...

What does it really look like to serve clients with empathy, attention, and heart? In this episode of Living Beyond the Numbers, hosts Jude Boudreaux and Caleb Arringdale sit down with two of the warmest voices at The Planning Center, Jenessa Ritchie and Krystal Gilliam, client service associates from the Quad Cities and Anchorage offices. Together, they pull back the curtain on what it takes to deliver meaningful service that goes far beyond transactions, discussing the human side of financial ...

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 str...

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 chi...

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 lo...

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 defi...

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 cl...

College decisions reveal more than numbers; they reveal what we value most. Discover how to align your financial choices with the legacy you want to build for your family. Money meets meaning in this candid conversation between Jude Boudreaux, Caleb Arringdale, and Ron Lieber, New York Times columnist and author of The Price You Pay for College and The Opposite of Spoiled. Together, they unpack the emotions and realities behind one of life’s biggest financial crossroads: sending your child to co...

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, buildi...

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, te...

Sending a child to college is exciting but it can also be one of the most stressful and expensive decisions a family faces. How do you choose the right school without losing sleep (or breaking the bank)? In this episode of Living Beyond the Numbers, hosts Jude Boudreaux and Caleb Arringdale sit down with Heidi King from College Inside Track to unpack the overwhelming world of college planning. Heidi shares both her professional expertise and personal experience guiding her own children through t...

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 financ...

What does a theater degree have to do with running a financial planning firm? In this episode, Jude Boudreaux and Caleb Arringdale sit down with Matt Mercer, Chief Operating Officer and shareholder at The Planning Center, to talk about leadership, priorities, and the hidden work that keeps client relationships running smoothly. Matt shares how his theater background shaped his approach to people, process, and change, and why curiosity beats judgment when challenges arise. He opens up about the l...

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 p...

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 s...

Taxes don’t usually make the highlight reel, but this year’s sweeping updates could impact families in ways that go far beyond April 15. In this episode, Jude Boudreaux and Caleb Arringdale sit down with Rob Baner, partner and head of the tax group at The Planning Center, to unpack the new tax law and what it really means for everyday families. From the expanded SALT deduction to the brand-new senior deduction, Rob helps break down the fine print into plain language while sharing practical strat...

When J.J. Sessions walked away from running his own practice to join The Planning Center, he wasn’t just looking for a new job—he was searching for a better way to serve clients and his family. In this heartfelt conversation, J.J. reflects on the challenges of running a business, the stress of managing cash flow, and the joy of finding a system that supports both financial goals and personal values. Alongside Jude and Caleb, they explore how First Step transformed J.J.’s family dynamic, helping ...

What makes financial planning akin to crafting a symphony? How do emotions and logic dance in sync when managing investments? Join Jude Boudreaux, CFP®, and the ever-enthusiastic Caleb Arringdale, EA, as they welcome Matt Knoll, CFP®, a seasoned financial planner and musician, to the “Living Beyond the Numbers” podcast. Matt, who holds a vital role in the Planning Center’s investment committee, shares insights into weaving a balanced financial strategy that harmonizes with life’s melodies. Drawi...

What is tax planning really, and how can it make a difference in your financial life? Join Jude Boudreaux, CFP®, as he sits down with his co-host, Caleb Arringdale, EA, a vital member of The Planning Center’s tax team, to uncover the world of proactive tax strategies. With a focus on turning potential tax obstacles into opportunities, this episode delves into optimizing your fiscal future, whether through tax loss harvesting, navigating electronic tax documents, or even exploring the power of do...

What if your definition of success wasn’t about money, but the life you get to live because of it? In this episode, host Jude Boudreaux, CFP®, and his “Director of Positivity,” Caleb Arringdale, EA, introduce the heart behind Living Beyond the Numbers. They share their personal stories—from Jude launching a financial planning firm with a newborn at home, to Caleb’s journey from public accounting into people-centred planning, and what drives their work with clients today. Key discussions include:...

“Living Beyond the Numbers” with Jude Boudreaux from The Planning Center is for those who see money as a tool, not a trophy. If you’ve worked hard, celebrated your successes, and learned from your failures, you might now be asking, “What’s next?” How do you use what you’ve built to create something meaningful and make a lasting impact on those you love? This podcast is not about financial jargon or spreadsheets—it’s about connecting your wealth with your deepest values and purpose. Through real ...