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A Conversation About Money and Emotions with Christine Luken (Ep. 18)

A Conversation About Money and Emotions with Christine Luken (Ep. 18)

Why do our emotions have such a strong influence on our finances?

Many people struggle with managing their finances because they don’t fully understand their emotions about spending, or because they feel pressure to maintain a certain level of living.

In this episode, Darren Wurz sits down with Christine Luken, the founder of the Financial Dignity™ Movement and author of “Money is Emotional: Prevent Your Heart from Hijacking Your Wallet”, to talk about the connection between the way we control and spend our money and our emotions. Christine chats about certain factors that determine our financial decisions and also mentions what mentality we should have when it comes to our money.

Christine and Darren discuss:

  • How emotions can lead us to poor financial decisions and why making more money does not solve underlying issues  
  • How understanding and harnessing the power of emotions can help us achieve our financial goals
  • The power of creating a specific vision and goal with positive and negative emotions 
  • How professionals, such as attorneys and doctors, struggle with money management due to lack of time and disorganization, and pressure to maintain a certain lifestyle
  • The impact of money scripts and how they can unconsciously affect our financial behavior and decisions
  • Using money as a tool for good
  • Why budgeting isn’t the most healthy way of managing your finances
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Darren Wurz:

Connect with Christine Luken:

About our guest:

Ready to master your money and become a financial success? Then you need Christine Luken, the Financial Dignity® Coach, in your corner! 

As the Founder of the Financial Dignity® Movement & a Certified Financial Counselor, Christine has coached hundreds of high-earning professionals to pay off staggering amounts of debt and massively increase their net worth over the past fourteen years. 

Christine’s three books, Money is Emotional, Manage Money Like a Boss, & Financial Dignity® After Divorce, have landed her over 100 podcasts, TV, and radio interviews, establishing her as the authority on money and emotions. 

When she’s not coaching clients from her office in Cincinnati, you can find this Certified Divorce Specialist & member of the Financial Therapy Association curled up with a good book, a fluffy cat, and a strong cup of coffee.

4 Things Parents Can Do to Financially Empower Their Kids (Ep. 17)

4 Things Parents Can Do to Financially Empower Their Kids (Ep. 17)

There is a lack of basic financial education in our schools, and that means you, as the adult in a child’s life, need to step up and fill the gap.

In this episode, Darren Wurz discusses the importance of financial literacy and shares a number of things his dad did that helped him start out on solid financial footing–things you can do for your kids too! These steps could make a huge impact on your children’s financial future.

Darren discusses:

  • Why it is important to help your kids start saving and investing early on
  • How adding your kids to your credit card can boost their credit score and help them as they start their careers 
  • Why law firm owners and business owners should hire their kids and the tax benefits they can reap
  • And more! 

Resources:

Connect with Darren Wurz:

How Niching Down Can Boost Law Firm Marketing with Chris Dreyer (Ep. 16)

How Niching Down Can Boost Law Firm Marketing with Chris Dreyer (Ep. 16)

Are you looking for ways to help your firm stand out from the competition and attract more clients through effective search engine optimization (SEO)? 

Look no further!

In this episode, Darren chats with Chris Dreyer, the CEO of Rankings.io, who shares his expert insights on achieving long-lasting and immediate results for law firms–especially personal injury firms. Together they explore winning strategies for boosting your online presence and positioning your firm as a leader in the industry. 

Chris discusses:

  • The importance of having a niche when targeting customers
  • How to identify your Total Addressable Market (TAM)
  • How you can connect with clients through Google Maps, Google Reviews and many more ranking systems
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Darren Wurz:

Connect with Chris Dreyer:

About our guest:

Chris Dreyer is the CEO and Founder of Rankings.io, an SEO agency that helps elite personal injury law firms land serious injury and auto accident cases through Google’s organic search results. His company has the distinction of making the Inc. 5000 list five years in a row.

Chris’s journey in legal marketing has been a saga, to say the least. A world-ranked collectible card game player in his youth, Chris began his “grown up” career with a History Education degree and landed a job out of college as a detention room supervisor. The surplus of free time in that job allowed him to develop a side hustle in affiliate marketing, where (at his apex) he managed over 100 affiliate sites simultaneously, allowing him to turn his side gig into a full-time one. When his time in affiliate marketing came to an end, he segued into SEO for attorneys, while also having time to become a top-ranked online poker player.

Today, Chris is the CEO and founder of Rankings.io, an SEO agency specializing in elite personal injury law firms and 5x consecutive member of the Inc. 5000.

In addition to owning and operating Rankings, Chris is a real estate investor and podcast host, as well as a member of the Forbes Agency Council, the Rolling Stone Culture Council, Business Journals Leadership Trust, Fast Company Executive Board, and Newsweek Expert Forum.

Chris’s first book, Niching Up: The Narrower the Market, the Bigger the Prize is slated for release in late 2022.

7 Common Money Mistakes For Attorneys and Law Firm Owners to Avoid (Ep. 15)

7 Common Money Mistakes For Attorneys and Law Firm Owners to Avoid (Ep. 15)

One of the most important things you can do to ensure a secure financial future is to take proactive steps now to manage your finances. This involves making smart choices in the present that will set you up for long-term success and avoiding financial mistakes that can set you back. 

In this episode, Darren uncovers the most common mistakes attorneys can make that may negatively impact their retirement plans. He also discusses potential roadblocks and the steps you can take to avoid them.

Darren discusses:

  • Savings strategies when you own your own business 
  • What living too large looks like based on your personal circumstances
  • Making sure you don’t miss out on potential tax savings 
  • How to balance paying down debt and investing for your retirement 
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Darren Wurz:

From Surface Warfare Officer to Opening Her Own Law Practice: Maresa Martin Talbert’s Story (Ep. 14)

From Surface Warfare Officer to Opening Her Own Law Practice: Maresa Martin Talbert’s Story (Ep. 14)

Maresa Martin Talbert is an attorney and law firm owner with a story you won’t want to miss. She served as an officer in the Navy, used the GI bill to pay for law school, opened her own successful law practice, and plans to retire early! 

In this episode, Darren speaks with Maresa Talbert, founding attorney at Talbert Law Office, APC, and navy operator, to discuss her journey and the lessons she learned along the way. 

Darren and Maresa discuss:

  • What inspired her to want to become an attorney from a young age 
  • Leadership lessons she learned from serving in the Navy and how those translate to her work as an attorney 
  • What inspired her to launch her own practice, and what advice she has for other law firm owners. 
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Darren Wurz:

Connect with Maresa:

About our guest:

Maresa Talbert owns and operates Talbert Law Office, APC, a virtual law practice that helps entrepreneurs, founders, and creatives start a business or nonprofit, maintain legal compliance, avoid risks, and protect personal and intellectual property assets through business formations, contracts, trademark registrations, and so much more.

Her business is not just a transactional exchange of goods and services. She lives by the mantra, “Purpose over profit.” Her purpose is to (1) honor God; (2) make her family proud; and (3) serve her community.

The way that it reflects in her business is by (1) delivering a premiere client experience; (2) providing culturally relevant education through her legal services; and (3) empowering her community to thrive in their purpose and build a legacy.

What’s A Law Firm Worth? With Serena Amlie, CFA (Ep.13)

What’s A Law Firm Worth? With Serena Amlie, CFA (Ep.13)

There are any number of reasons to determine the value of your firm, especially if you are planning to sell your practice. But how do you do that? 

In this episode, Darren Wurz talks with Serena Amlie, CFA, a manager at ComStock Advisors, about the process of performing a valuation for a law firm. She also explains what you can do to improve the value of your business to sell it for top dollar.

Serena discusses:

  • Two reasons why law firms get a valuation done 
  • Ways a law firm valuation is different from other businesses
  • Two different methods she typically uses to evaluate the law firm
  • Ways to improve the value of your law practice ahead of sale
  • And more

Connect With Darren Wurz:

Connect With Serena Amile:

About Our Guest:

Serena is a Senior Associate in ComStock Advisors’ Cincinnati office and has performed hundreds of valuations of businesses ranging in size from under $1.0 million in revenues to over $0.5 billion. She assists business owners in determining the value of their company for purposes including succession planning, mergers and acquisitions, employee stock ownership plan implementation and annual updates, estate and gift tax, shareholder disputes, divorce litigation, corporate planning, and appraisal reviews. Highlights of Serena’s valuation industry experience include manufacturing, marketing and branding, architecture and engineering, food and beverage, and construction. Serena is a Chartered Financial Analyst ® and a member of the ESOP Association, the American Society of Appraisers, and the Covington Business Council. She teaches a monthly financial literacy course to high school students at Covington Classical Academy. Serena earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Xavier University.

Law Firm Succession With Thomas Cuni (Ep.12)

Law Firm Succession With Thomas Cuni (Ep.12)

As a business owner, growing your law firm is one of your priorities. However, what happens when you’re ready to retire or sell your business, do you have a succession plan?

In this episode, Darren Wurz talks with Thomas Cuni from Cuni, Ferguson & LeVay Co., L.P.A. He discusses the importance of having a succession plan and why money isn’t everything when it comes to lawyers deciding when the right time to retire is. 

Thomas discusses:

  • The importance of having a succession plan in place
  • Why most firms might not survive after their founder leaves the business
  • How retirement planning and succession planning go hand in hand
  • Why selling your practice isn’t a retirement plan
  • And more

Connect With Darren Wurz:

Connect With Thomas Cuni:

About Our Guest:

Thomas L. Cuni earned his law degree from the University of Cincinnati, College of Law. He was one of the founding partners of Cuni, Ferguson & Levay Co., LPA, where he currently serves as of counsel. His primary focus throughout most of his career has been the representation of small businesses, especially the formation of companies and purchase and sale of businesses. He has organized several hundred business entities and represented clients in the purchase and sale of more than 200 significant commercial real estate holdings. These skills and experiences led to his current work—helping law firm owners develop succession plans and successfully sell their practices.

Maintaining A Healthy Lifestyle During The Holidays With Jerry Scarlato (Ep.11)

Maintaining A Healthy Lifestyle During The Holidays With Jerry Scarlato (Ep.11)

Attorneys and law firm owners are already busy as it is. Now, throw in gift shopping, holiday parties, and time away from work and this time of year can really be very stressful. How do you manage stress and stay healthy during the holidays?

In this episode, Darren Wurz talks with Jerry Scarlato, owner of Thriveology, and fitness coach. He will offer tips for staying healthy during the holidays and explain how shifting your perspective on what a healthy lifestyle looks like can help you live a happy life.

Jerry discusses:

  • How shifting your mindset around exercise can increase your productivity
  • Some tips on how to stay active on your laziest days
  • How to stay on track with your lifestyle when going to holiday parties 
  • The importance of balance
  • And more

Connect With Darren Wurz:

Connect With Jerry Scarlato:

About Our Guest:

Jerry Scarlato is an Entrepreneur, Fitness Coach, Performance Advisor, author, speaker, foodie and book lover. His passion is helping people become the best version of themselves through fitness and lifestyle development. As a coach and advisor, he has spent the last 10+ years honing my skills on what it takes to create lasting change in my clients. Because if you’re not able to make fitness or nutrition stick, the rest of it doesn’t matter. As an entrepreneur, Jerry has been a part of a wonderful team that has grown Thriveology at a rate of 20% a year since its inception in 2014. Time flies when you’re having fun! As an author, speaker and corporate presenter, he has educated people on the importance of developing sustainable habits to fit their life. Jerry has also advised groups and individuals on a corporate level to help maximize their performance and become as productive as possible via better health and vitality. 

Investing In Your Future (Ep.10)

Investing In Your Future (Ep.10)

A little self-care can go a long way. This may include taking some personal time, eating better, and getting regular exercise. But it should also mean investment planning for your future.

In this episode of The Lawyer Millionaire, Darren Wurz shares how four investment groups thrive in different environments and how your returns are a function of your risk tolerance.

Darren discusses:

  • The concept of compound growth
  • Why it’s a mistake to dip into your retirement funds
  • The four major groups of investing asset classes and when to use them
  • And more

Resources:

Connect With Darren Wurz:

The 5 Worst Investment Mistakes (Ep. 9)

The 5 Worst Investment Mistakes (Ep. 9)

How often have you seen the market dip and immediately want to pull out your investments to avoid further losses? That would be one of your biggest mistakes.

In this episode, Darren Wurz shares the top five investment mistakes made when faced with market volatility and how he helps clients protect themselves from increasing losses. He reveals the dangers of impulse decision making, how those decisions create missed opportunities and the long-term consistency of investment markets that should be driving decisions.

Darren discusses:

  • Why investors should avoid major changes to investment strategies
  • The psychology behind client decisions when faced with market volatility
  • The importance of patience when working with the market
  • How risk can increase or decrease losses and gains within the market
  • And more

Connect with Darren Wurz: