Most people hear “tax efficiency” and immediately think: nap time. Not today.

This week on Bangers Only, I sit down with Brent Sullivan — founder of Tax Alpha Insider, taxable-investing specialist, and the only person alive who can make “in-kind redemptions” sound like premium entertainment.

We dive into: 

• ETFs vs. Mutual Funds… and why ETFs keep winning
• 351 Conversions
• Options overlay strategies 
• Tax-loss harvesting, return of capital, and other phrases guaranteed to impress at holiday parties

If you’re an advisor, investor, or someone who just wants to keep more of what they earn, this episode is for you!

Connect with Brent Sullivan

Tax Alpha Insider - Substack 

Twitter (X)

LinkedIn 

Timestamps

Are you and your spouse killing it on your personal financial planning, or are you about to kill each other?

Today on Bangers Only, I’m thrilled to welcome personal finance’s power couple — the people actually walking the “love + money” talk — Doug and Heather Boneparth.

As one, they wrote, “Money Together,” essentially a couple's therapy session but with spreadsheets. This book is different from other personal finance books because it's based on real stories and real feedback from real people who are walking the same path you're walking. 

Doug and Heather created a safe space for couples to share and ultimately feel confident about their individual and joint relationship with money. 

This podcast will give you some valuable guidance and have you laughing at the same time. 

Connect with Doug and Heather

Money Together

Bone Fide Wealth

Timestamps

(0:00) Welcome, Doug and Heather Boneparth

(0:40) Congratulations On “Money Together”

(1:43) Who Put Together “Money Together”

(2:42) Learning From What’s Left Unsaid

(4:33) Redefining Fairness, Making Room

(6:45) The Best Couples Are The Best Listeners

(8:20) Money or Love? It’s One In The Same

(13:48) Meet Your Partner Where They Are

(15:41) We All Have Our Roles

(17:14) Taking Ownership

(19:46) There’s More To Contribute Than Money

(21:11) Weathering The Storms

(22:20) The Ticket To Admission Is Getting Uncomfortable

(23:33) Pay It Forward

(25:06) Teams Get Better With Practice

This week, I sat down with Brian Portnoy, founder of Shaping Wealth and author of The Geometry of Wealth. 

Brian’s big idea? Wealth isn’t about more. It’s about enough. We discussed,

• The human side of money.

• What “funded contentment” really looks like in everyday life.

• Why advisors should be guides to meaning, not just portfolio managers. 

• And how parents can teach kids about money without passing along stress. 

Here’s the kicker: Brian believes that the most important financial decision isn’t “What should I invest in?” but “What do I want my money to do for me?”

Advisors, parents, investors - anyone seeking to rethink their relationship with money will find our conversation of value. Tune in to the latest episode of Bangers Only today.

Connect with Brian

This week, I sat down with Brittany Christensen, Head of Business Development at Tidal Financial Group.

If you don’t know Tidal, here’s the quick pitch: they’re the ETF engine room. Tidal helps asset managers take a good idea and actually launch it - with the tech, infrastructure, compliance, distribution, and operational muscle that makes the ETF ecosystem run.

Brittany’s right in the middle, helping innovators turn strategies into scalable funds.

Here are some takeaways from our conversation:

• It’s not what you make, it’s what you keep. A strong market year looks great on paper, but if you’re in a mutual fund, year-end distributions can eat your gains thanks to the IRS. ETFs, on the other hand, are built to minimize those tax headaches.

• Mutual funds vs. ETFs: How you enter and exit matters. Mutual funds: When investors redeem, the fund may have to sell securities = capital gains for everyone. You can get taxed even if you don’t sell. ETFs: In-kind creations/redemptions with Authorized Participants mean no forced selling inside the fund.

• Section 351 isn’t just a dusty tax code. It’s the reason ETFs can be seeded, grown, and converted from model portfolios without triggering a tax event. Mutual funds use it at inception, ETFs use it every day.

• The growth story is real. Mutual funds still hold trillions, but ETF assets are growing YoY at a clip that shows where the puck is going.

Brittany breaks all of this down with clarity (and plenty of spice). If you’re an advisor, asset manager, or just someone trying to understand why ETFs keep winning, this episode is a must.

Connect with Brittany:

Connect with Brittany on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-christensen-63a617b7/ 

Tidal Financial Group: https://tidalfinancialgroup.com/ 

Timestamps: 

(0:00) Intro

(0:22) Welcome, Brittany Christensen

(0:40) What Is Tidal Financial Group?

(2:00) Understanding ETFs

(4:33) Actively Managed ETFs

(9:13) Growing An ETF Is Not Easy

(12:30) Tax Impacts

(17:42) IRS Section 351 - Transferring from Mutual Funds into ETFs

(22:19) Avoidance vs. Deferral

This week’s podcast tackles “Fitness Alpha,” a concept that links health to peak performance. Dr. Phil Pearlman argues that healthier individuals make better decisions, manage stress, and avoid breakdowns - especially relevant for high-pressure professions like finance.

He emphasizes the importance of tuning into bodily and emotional cues. This is essential for highly motivated people prone to pushing themselves too hard. Reconnecting with your inner self builds resilience. 

Phil is the founder of the Pearl Institute. He’s trained in clinical psychology and enjoyed a successful career in financial services. He’s dedicated to helping people “grow healthier, perform better, lead stronger and make wiser decisions through long-term health planning and performance coaching. 

Phil has been my personal executive coach for the past three years. I hope you enjoy our conversation.

Connect with Phil

PhilPearlman.com 

PrimeCuts Newsletter

The Pearl Institute

Twitter

Linked In

Timestamps 

(0:00) Intro

(0:25) Welcome, Dr. Phil Pearlman

(1:00) Integrationist By Nature

(3:56) Behavioral Economics Is An Integrative Science

(5:37) Doctor Heal Thyself

(7:07) What Clicked?

(9:52) Coming Full Circle

(11:03) Coaching Organically

(17:55) 3 Types of Flexibility

(21:39) It Doesn’t Have To Be Cold Turkey

(23:15) One Change Ripples

(27:00) The Healthier I Got, The Better I Performed

(31:00) Humor Enables Connection

(32:08) The Willingness To Bust People

(35:40) No Matter What Anyone Does, Maintain A Positive Regard

Media and communications have changed, and we aren’t keeping up. Companies are rethinking their strategies for communicating with their clients, prospects, and the public. 

In this episode of Bangers Only, we dive into what corporate executives need to accept and the changes they need to make to be relevant today. 

The good news is it doesn’t have to be costly, time-consuming, or painful. 

Ted Merz, a media veteran, talks about the communication challenges people face today and simple solutions that can get you on track. 

• People want to hear from CEOs in their own, authentic voices. 

• Traditional media is coming in second to social media. 

• Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. People want to connect with people. 

• You’ll see instant results and have fun too. 

Ted Merz was Bloomberg’s Global Head of News Product for nearly a decade. He spent the previous 16 years in senior executive roles at Bloomberg News, including as New York Bureau Chief and Managing Editor for the Americas.

Connect with Ted

LinkedIn

Principals Media

Ted’s Blog

Follow Ted on Twitter

In this episode of the Bangers Only Podcast, I sit down with Gordy Bonker, the man behind Bonkers Cards, to better understand the vintage sports cards industry.

We’re talking million-dollar Mickey Mantles, Honus Wagners worth more than some beachfront homes, and much more.

Gordy shares why vintage cards like the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle and the T206 Honus Wagner may serve as alternative investments in your portfolio.

If you’re a collector, an investor, or just love a good story about following your passion, this episode’s for you.

Be sure to follow Gordy on social!

Timestamps:

(0:00) Intro

(0:11) Welcome Gordy Bonker

(0:44) Building Bonkers Cards

(3:52) Vintage Sports Cards As Alternative Investments

(7:19) Market Inefficiencies

(12:07) The Mona Lisa Of Sports Cards

(12:59) Grading Cards For Clarity

(17:14) The National Sports Collectors Convention

(21:39) Creating and Cultivating Community

(26:28) Recognizing Cards As Alternative Assets

(27:27) Support Men’s Mental Health

There’s a network of people around the country who work together to find homes for rescued dogs. Last week, I was able to experience this firsthand. 

My college friend, Jamie Dulick, transported a beautiful puppy from Charlotte to a new home in Maine. I was able to be along for the flight in Jamie’s plane as Daisy began her recovery and is being welcomed into a new home. 

Hear about this experience and this amazing organization on this week’s Bangers Only podcast. Pilots N Paws makes it easy for volunteers and donors to be a part of this magic at any level. 

Jamie and I also talk about tackling retirement, maintaining friendships and identifying that special purpose that gets you jumping out of bed in the morning.
Timestamps 

(0:00) Intro

(0:22) Welcome, Jamie Dulick

(0:50) Reconnecting with College Friends

(2:00) Jamie’s Pilot Profile - Fear of Flying

(4:10) Introduction to Pilots N Paws

(4:50) The Pilots N Paws Network

(6:10) Meet Daisy

(8:38) Feeling Joy Through Service

(10:50) Backyard Dog Breeding

(12:36) Jamie’s Retirement

(16:07) Keeping In Touch Over Decades

(19:23) Meaning and Fulfillment in Retirement

Watching where investors are putting their money today can give us great insight into what markets might do next. 

• Why is there a record number ($8 Trillion) in money market funds?

• What’s up with bonds? Do people not believe the Fed is going to cut interest rates?

• There are a record number of new ETF launches. New asset managers are bringing active ETFs to market in record numbers. Is this a good thing? 

• Crypto ETF asset inflows are on fire. Where is this money coming from?

• Single stock and synthetic income ETFs are bringing in billions when most didn’t see this coming. 

Join me and Mike Akins, Founding Partner of ETF Action, as we dive into a lively discussion on these and other critical market issues on this week’s Bangers Only podcast.

Timestamps

(0:00) Intro

(0:23) Welcome, Mike Akins

(0:55) ETF Action Delivers Institutional Data Sets To Everyone

(2:12) Follow Fund Flows, New Issuers

(2:50) ETFs Continue To Grow

(4:30) Do We Need All The Options?

(5:40) Understanding ETF Innovation

(7:20) Asset Classes Around The World

(9:25) Cash On The Sidelines

(10:27) Fixed Income Flows

(13:20) ETFs Are The De Facto Investment

(13:56) Crypto Continues To Move Forward

(16:16) Is The Average RIA Still Not Committed To Crypto?

(18:40) Hedge Funds Love Volatility 

(19:42) Large-Cap Growth vs. International and Small-Cap

(22:04) Active ETFs Attract Billions

(24:55) Single Stock ETFs

(28:11) Options Income Strategies

(32:40) Options Income ETFs Are Not All The Same

(36:00) Check Out ETFAction.com!

Rusty Vanneman, formerly CIO at Orion Wealth Management, is my guest on today’s Bangers Only podcast. 

The markets couldn’t feel better, but now is the time to identify and act on upgrades to your portfolio. 

• Certain asset classes are outperforming US equities and are 30-50% on sale.

• The bond market (and money market funds) are paying you to diversify and reduce risk.

• Is private equity and private debt worth the risk?

• Crypto and real assets are good enough for central banks. Have they made their way into your portfolio?

• Remember where you were in 2015? You’re ten years older and have way more money. Does your portfolio deserve a bodyguard?

(0:00) Intro

(0:10) Welcome Rusty Vanneman

(0:37) It’s A Great Time To Be An Investor

(1:14) Should We Be Concerned?

(2:11) Rusty’s History

(4:08) Orion’s Exponential Growth

(5:20) Free Agency

(6:45) Opportunities For Improvement

(8:06) Valuations Matter

(9:50) Asset Allocation 

(11:39) Will The Pendulum Swing?

(12:55) Volatility Impacts Behavior

(13:46) The Beauty of Alternative and Real Assets

(16:26) Do You Own Crypto?

(18:54) Alternatives Need To Be Low Correlation

(20:33) Private Equities Amplify Risk

(23:16) Longevity’s Impact On Investing

(25:26) You Need To Have Exceptional Service

(26:40) Spending More Time With Clients

(27:40) What Keeps You Up At Night?

(28:39) Innovations That Excite

(30:17) Berkshire’s Influence

(32:20) Invest Well and Be Well