Financial Planning: Beyond the Numbers

New Ditch the Suit Series - with Jessica Blake, Sr. Wealth Manager

Financial Planning: Beyond the Numbers - Dan Kain, Manager, Sr. Wealth Manager

From Ashes to Action: A Story of Strength and Support - Tonya Laughing,
Executive Coordinator

In this episode of Ditch the Suits, Travis Maus, CEO of S.E.E.D., and guest Jessica Blake, one of our Senior Wealth Managers, explore the concept of financial freedom beyond just accumulating wealth.                   

They discuss common misconceptions, emphasizing that financial freedom is not merely about being rich but understanding and prioritizing one's financial situation. Jess shares insights on the importance of planning, owning your financial reality, and the steps to achieve long-term success. 

The conversation also touches on the role of financial advisors, the pitfalls of over-collecting financial products, and the significance of having a clear financial path. Whether you're in debt or have amassed wealth, this episode offers valuable perspectives on achieving true financial freedom. 

Dan Kain, Senior Wealth Manager

Generally, each meeting we have with financial planning clients starts the same way. We gauge what is happening in their lives and their families’ lives to truly understand what they are going through, good or bad. If you were to ask the financial planners at S.E.E.D, they would likely tell you that they enjoy the early meeting banter just as much, if not more, than helping someone invest their money properly or figuring out how to optimize Social Security. For me, this is one of the most exciting parts of the meeting because everyone has a story to tell. Our goal is to get to know what is happening in their lives so we can truly personalize their planning while also building great relationships. 

Most meetings start off discussing fun trips or stories of grandchildren playing sports that we love to hear about. But sometimes the news isn’t so flattering, and we need to pivot from our original meeting agenda to accommodate what we have just learned. This was the case for a client of ours earlier this year who lost their job. I could immediately tell they were very upset. This client had spent many years with the same company, and I could feel and see the sadness and anxiety through the tears in their eyes and the crackling of their voice. I don’t remember exactly what we had outlined on the original meeting agenda, but I know my main objective shifted to easing their fears and anxiety over the uncertainty to come. 

This client very much enjoyed working, and early retirement was not part of the original plan. It was evident as we went through the meeting that they had saved and planned well enough to be able to retire early if necessary. In the months following this meeting and after several additional conversations, I sensed the initial shock and disappointment of losing their job had worn off. They have since committed themselves to volunteering in their community and spending additional time with family. I often think about and feel that real financial planning isn’t just about helping people build wealth. It’s about building relationships and being there for our clients when life gets messy because life will get messy for all of us at one point or another. 

Tonya Laughing, Executive Coordinator

"It’s OK if you fall down and lose your spark. Just make sure that when you get back up, you rise as the whole damn fire." — Colette Werden

I found her in her room—overwhelmed, tearful, and surrounded by the chaos that life had thrown her way. Laundry and dishes were piled high. Overdue bills sat half-open in her lap. Her phone had been shut off.

“I am a mess,” she cried.

But she wasn’t. She was beautiful, intelligent, and strong—just caught in a season of deep pain. She had recently lost both her mother and brother far too soon. The weight of grief and the responsibility of closing their estates had become too much to bear.

So we sat on the floor together. We cried. We folded laundry. We washed dishes. We sorted through the bills. Small steps—just enough to help her breathe again, to calm her mind, and to begin the journey back to the strong, resilient woman she truly is.

We started with the basics: reviewing financial literacy, listening to the Ditch the Suits podcast, and picking up an organizational planner. These weren’t just tools—they were lifelines.

She made the courageous decision to rise from the ashes. She didn’t need someone to fix everything—she just needed someone to walk beside her. To support her. To cheer her on. To remind her that she’s not alone.

At our core, that’s what we believe in—meeting people where they are, offering practical tools, and walking with them as they reclaim their spark.