Fiduciary Alchemy

Fiduciary Alchemy was born from a hard truth: you often do not see the cracks in your plans until life forces you to. For host Craig Andrews, that moment came after waking up from a six-week coma. On this show, Craig welcomes wealth managers, tax strategists, and estate planners who help families prepare for a long, prosperous life while also protecting the people they love if life takes an unexpected turn. Listen in to build a plan that honors your family through all of life’s twists and turns.

Fiduciary Alchemy is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 17 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts Fiduciary Alchemy, a business show with 17 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #17

  From First Rental to Passive Real Estate with Ryan Finch

  Sep 9, 202635 min

  Real estate can build real wealth, but Ryan Finch is clear about the part people like to skip: it is not passive just because rent checks show up. In this episode of Fiduciary Alchemy, Craig talks with Ryan, founder of Tangible Wealth Solutions LLC, about the difference between owning real estate on paper and actually carrying the risk, work, stress, and responsibility that come with it. Ryan’s story starts early. At 19, he used room-and-board money, savings from a painting business, an FHA loan, roommates, and carefully structured help from his parents to buy his first rental property. The deal worked, but not because it was magic. It worked because the numbers mattered, reserves mattered, repayment discipline mattered, and he had to learn the business by living inside it. Craig and Ryan dig into the less glamorous side of real estate: market cycles, the 2008-2009 downturn, fix-and-flip hype, vacancies, maintenance, tenants, managers, and the emotional strain of assets that do not always behave. Ryan makes the case that even self-managing landlords should price management into their return calculations, because that return is often payment for labor, not just capital. The conversation then moves into tax-aware exits and more passive ownership paths, including 1031 exchanges, Delaware Statutory Trusts, and mineral rights. Ryan explains how investors can reduce hassle, diversify, and defer taxes, while still remembering the tradeoff: less day-to-day control does not mean no real estate risk. Want to learn more about Ryan Finch's work? Visit Tangible Wealth Solutions at http://www.yourtws.com . Connect with Ryan Finch on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryandfinch/ . You can also reach Ryan directly at 720-338-1650. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://fiduciaryalchemy.com/podcast/apply/ . Want to learn more about Craig Andrews' work? Check out https://fiduciaryalchemy.com/ . 1031 Risk Disclosure: There is no guarantee that any strategy will be successful or achieve investment objectives; Potential for property value loss – All real estate investments have the potential to lose value during the life of the investments; Change of tax status – The income stream and depreciation schedule for any investment property may affect the property owner’s income bracket and/or tax status. An unfavorable tax ruling may cancel deferral of capital gains and result in immediate tax liabilities; Potential for foreclosure – All financed real estate investments have potential for foreclosure; Illiquidity – Because 1031 exchanges are commonly offered through private placement offerings and are illiquid securities. The secondary market for these investments is very limited, and early sale is not guaranteed. Reduction or Elimination of Monthly Cash Flow Distributions – Like any investment in real estate, if a property unexpectedly loses tenants or sustains substantial damage, there is potential for suspension of cash flow distributions; Impact of fees/expenses – Costs associated with the transaction may impact investors’ returns and may outweigh the tax benefits For more information on Emerson Equity , please visit FINRA’s BrokerCheck website. You can also download a copy of Emerson Equity’s Customer Relationship Summary to learn more about their role and services. General Disclosure Not an offer to buy, nor a solicitation to sell securities. All investing involves risk of loss of some or all principal invested. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Speak to your finance and/or tax professional prior to investing. Any information provided is for informational purposes only. Securities through Emerson Equity LLC Member: FINRA / SIPC . Only available in states where Emerson Equity LLC is registered. Emerson Equity LLC is not affiliated with any other entities identified in this communication. Oil and Gas Investment Risks Private investments in oil and gas are high risk, including, but not limited to the following considerations: Political Risk – Federal or local governments could enact regulations/legislation that could adversely affect the oil and gas industry, thereby negatively affecting your investment. Geological Risk – Oil and gas production can be negatively affected by the difficulty of extraction and the possibility that the accessible reserves in any deposit will be smaller than estimated. There is no guarantee that any drilling operation will be successful. Supply, Demand, and Price Risk – A reduction in oil and gas prices, a decrease in demand, or a surplus of available supply can reduce or even eliminate investment returns. Cost Risk – Unexpected or increased operating expenses can reduce or even eliminate investment returns. Dividend Cuts – Any dividend payments can be reduced or eliminated if the company is unable to earn enough revenue to fund the payments to investors. Oil Spill Risk – In addition to the cost of repairs, clean up, potential fines, and potential litigation, oil spills can negatively affect the reputation of the company, all of which can reduce or eliminate investment returns.

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  Episode #16

  Why Later Could be a Plan for Never with Emily Harper

  Sep 2, 202633 min

  Most people know they should have estate documents in place. Fewer people understand that the documents are only part of the work. In this episode, Craig talks with Emily Harper of Monument Wealth Management about why estate planning often stalls, why families postpone the hardest decisions, and why waiting for “later” can leave loved ones carrying the burden in a crisis. Craig connects the conversation to his own hospital experience, including the ventilator decision his wife was forced to make under pressure. Emily explains why powers of attorney, medical directives, and clear decision makers matter so much, not just legally, but emotionally. The goal is not only to make the process cleaner. It is to reduce the weight placed on the people who have to act when something goes wrong. Emily also shares what she has learned while going through the estate-planning process herself. Even as a Certified Financial Planner, she found that hiring the attorney was easier than making the decisions. For couples without children, the process can be even more complex, because the answers about who should decide, who should receive assets, and what kind of impact the money should create are not always obvious. The conversation closes with a practical way to begin: start with values. Before the questionnaires, documents, and legal decisions, Emily recommends identifying the north stars that guide the choices. Craig and Emily also talk about AI as a useful tool for education and productivity, but not a substitute for experienced human judgment when decisions affect money, family, and long-term legacy. Want to learn more about Emily Harper’s work? Visit Monument Wealth Management at https://monumentwealthmanagement.com/ . Connect with Emily Harper on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilyharpercfp . Think you’d be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://fiduciaryalchemy.com/podcast/apply/ . Want to learn more about Craig Andrews’ work? Check out https://fiduciaryalchemy.com/ .

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  Episode #15

  The Retirement Plan Risk Most Business Owners Miss with Jeff Atwell

  Aug 26, 202631 min

  Business owners start retirement plans for the right reasons. They want to help employees save, compete for talent, and build something that serves people beyond the paycheck. But qualified retirement plans come with responsibilities many owners do not realize they have. In this episode of Fiduciary Alchemy, Craig talks with Jeff Atwell, Sr. VP Fiduciary Services at AmericanTCS Fiduciary Services, LLC, about ERISA, fiduciary duty, pooled employer plans, and the governance obligations that sit behind every qualified retirement plan. Jeff has worked with retirement plans for decades and has been involved with more than 3,000 plans since 1978. He explains why every plan, whether it is a startup plan or a billion-dollar plan, has to follow the same core rules: the Internal Revenue Code, Department of Labor regulations, ERISA, and the plan’s legal documents. Craig and Jeff dig into why “fiduciary duty” is not just a phrase buried in paperwork. ERISA expects plan fiduciaries to act as prudent experts. For many business owners, that standard is uncomfortable because they are already working full-time to stay expert in their own business. Jeff explains how responsibility can reach the board of directors, officers, and committees overseeing the plan. He also shares why misuse of plan assets, late deposits, poor documentation, and failure to monitor service-provider compensation can turn into serious financial exposure. One of the clearest examples comes from plan fees. If a plan sponsor cannot document that provider compensation is reasonable, Jeff explains how a seemingly routine $50,000 annual fee issue can become a $300,000 problem across a six-year lookback period. The conversation also covers pooled employer plans, a structure Congress created in 2019 to help employers outsource more of the retirement plan governance burden to a prudent expert. Jeff explains why this has become attractive to business owners who want to offer a strong retirement benefit without personally carrying every governance responsibility. This episode is for business owners, executives, and advisors who want to understand the risk behind qualified retirement plans before the Department of Labor or IRS forces the issue. Want to learn more about Jeff Atwell’s work? Visit Fiduciary XChange at http://www.fiduciaryxchange.com . You can reach Jeff Atwell directly at jatwell@americantcs.com or 972-358-6778. Connect with Jeff Atwell on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-atwell-145bb122/ . Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://fiduciaryalchemy.com/podcast/apply/ . Want to learn more about Craig Andrews' work? Check out https://fiduciaryalchemy.com/ .

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  Episode #13

  Why Cutting Marketing Can Kill Your Exit with Richard Parker

  Aug 12, 202643 min

  A business owner may think distributions are the reward for years of risk. A buyer may see the same distributions and wonder why the owner stopped betting on the business. In this episode of Fiduciary Alchemy, Craig talks with Richard Parker, founder of Roy Street Advisors, about what makes a lower middle market business more valuable, more buyable, and less likely to fall apart during a sale. Richard explains why reinvesting in the business can create a much larger return than pulling every available dollar out. People, processes, second-level management, sales, and marketing all become part of the value story. If the business sells at a multiple, every dollar of real growth can come back multiplied. That is why cutting sales and marketing before a sale can be so destructive. Richard sees owners reduce payroll or marketing to make the numbers look cleaner, but good buyers notice the disturbance. They line up the financial statements, compare year over year, and look for the odd ripple that says something changed. Craig and Richard also get into what buyers should be looking for beyond the financials. Stable revenue matters. Margins matter. Expense discipline matters. But Richard argues the bigger question is whether the buyer is the right fit to own the business. If the owner-operator's skill set does not match what the business needs, the numbers may not save the deal. The conversation moves into culture after acquisition. Craig brings up the fear many owners have: selling the company, then watching the buyer damage the people, reputation, and work that took decades to build. Richard pushes back on the old caricature of private equity and explains why better buyers know they are buying people, culture, and continuity, not just cash flow. For owners thinking about exit, Richard lays out three questions that matter: is the business ready to sell, is the owner ready to sell, and what does the owner want after the sale? Money may be the main driver. Legacy may matter just as much. And for some owners, the hardest part is figuring out who they are when the business is no longer their identity. For buyers, Richard's advice is disciplined but encouraging. Buying a business is doable, but not by collecting random snippets from social media, AI, or online communities full of people who have never closed a deal. Start smaller. Learn the process. Find someone credible who has already done what you are trying to do. Then buy the biggest business you can afford to operate without pretending your first acquisition needs to be the moonshot. Want to learn more about Richard Parker's work? Visit Roy Street Advisors at http://roystreet.com . Connect with Richard Parker on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardparkerdiomo/ . You can also reach Richard directly at rp@roystreet.com or 561-308-1650. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://fiduciaryalchemy.com/podcast/apply/ . Want to learn more about Craig Andrews' work? Check out https://fiduciaryalchemy.com/ .

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  Episode #12

  The Will Is Only Half the Plan with Ellen Dickerson

  Aug 5, 202637 min

  An Austin attorney with hundreds of cows sounds like the start of a lighter conversation. But Ellen Dickerson knows ranch life and estate planning have at least one thing in common: waiting until something goes wrong is a bad strategy. In this episode of Fiduciary Alchemy, Craig talks with Ellen Dickerson, Partner at Hardie Alcozer, about the plans families avoid until the moment those plans are needed most. Ellen starts with the line that cuts through the discomfort: nobody gets out of here alive. Estate planning is not really about being morbid. It is about making sure your family has a way forward when grief, confusion, illness, or incapacity would otherwise force them to improvise. That timing matters. Ellen explains why the time to do estate planning is not when you need it. A sudden accident, a medical diagnosis, dementia, Alzheimer's, or a gradual loss of capacity can all make planning harder or impossible if the right documents are not already in place. Craig and Ellen also get into the difference between documents that protect you while you are alive and documents that move assets after death. Powers of attorney and incapacity documents help someone step in for financial and medical decisions while you are still here. A will handles what happens to your assets after you pass away. The conversation gets practical fast. Where are the original documents? Who knows how to access them? Is the will in a safe deposit box that nobody else can open? Does the person you trust have the safe combination, or will they forget they have it when the crisis comes? Ellen also explains why digital access has become part of modern estate planning. Phones, passwords, bank logins, password managers, legacy contacts, and social media accounts all matter. If family members cannot get in, they may not be able to pay bills, find assets, close accounts, or protect a vulnerable person from scams. For people who think their situation is too simple to need planning, Ellen gives the bare minimum: a will, financial and medical powers of attorney, and related incapacity documents. Without them, the law still has a plan. It just may not be the plan you would have chosen. Want to learn more about Ellen Dickerson's work? Visit Hardie Alcozer at https://hardiealcozer.com/ . Connect with Ellen Dickerson on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/edickerson/ . You can also reach Ellen directly at ellen@hardiealcozer.com or 512-374-4922. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://fiduciaryalchemy.com/podcast/apply/ . Want to learn more about Craig Andrews' work? Check out https://fiduciaryalchemy.com/ .

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