Money Tales

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Jennifer Burnham-Grubbs. When Jennifer was a student at Princeton, all of her friends talked about how they were opening bank accounts. Jennifer decided she should have one too. She walked into a local bank, and the process seemed straightforward until she faced a question she hadn't anticipated. The teller asked Jennifer how much money she was going to deposit into the account. Jennifer didn’t have any. She left the bank with a crucial realization that there were aspects of the financial world that she didn't yet understand. As you’ll hear, Jennifer is a quick study.

Jennifer is the founder and CEO of Quantum Insurance Services. Within the business, entertainment and high net worth circles of Southern California, she is renowned for her strategic insights into A-rated insurance products that build wealth, financial freedom and security.

Rather than as just a bill to pay, Jennifer sees insurance as a gateway to wealth and well-being. Her unique background, expertise, and perspectives on insurance, tax and financial strategies shift the approach to guiding businesses and individuals who want to protect themselves, their families and employees while growing assets and savings. This approach has catapulted Jennifer into the spotlight as a leading female in the insurance sector, and positioned Quantum Insurance Services as an award-winning, innovative, client-focused financial wellbeing brokerage firm for health and wealth protection and growth.

With over $100 million in insurance products under management, Jennifer provides athletes, celebrities, fast-growing businesses, high net worth individuals and everyday families with insurance designs for life, disability, long-term care, annuities, commercial risk and employee benefits. Her custom programs deliver safety, opportunity, income planning, and support for building and transferring generational wealth.

As a top advisor to C-Level executives Jennifer is deeply committed to building wealth for the power of good, and especially passionate about building financial acumen in women. She is co-creator of the Wealth Mastery for Women™ monthly webinar series hosted by LeadHERship Global and the C-Suite Network, which encourages women to follow their purpose, mission, and dreams with increased financial confidence. She is also co-founder of Womxn of Wealth (WOW), a nonprofit foundation dedicated to helping women use money strategically, intelligently and successfully.

With a B.A. from Princeton University where she graduated Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa in the top 10% of her class, Jennifer is a distinguished thought leader contributing to financial education through webinars, podcasts, articles, blogs and speaking engagements. She lives with her husband, two daughters, a dog and several rabbits in Los Angeles and hopes one day to catch up on all the content she didn’t watch in the 90’s.

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Felecia Froe, MD. One day when Felecia was practicing medicine, she asked a patient about her profession. The patient responded that she was a real estate investor and over the course of many conversations, Felecia was hooked. Felecia ultimately found a property she thought was a good deal and had this patient take a look at it. The patient challenged her and said, “If you don’t buy this house, I will.” The patient then took the risk away by offering up her rehab crew and promising to buy the property later on if Felecia didn’t make money on it once rented. Felicia gladly accepted the challenge, and her life was forever changed.

Felecia is the owner of Money with Mission, an investment company focused on empowering professional women to build wealth and achieve financial freedom through off Wall Street social impact investing in real estate and businesses.

As a real estate syndicator, Felecia has partnered with like-minded investors and has raised money for several social impact projects, including a residential assisted living home in Kansas City, Missouri and, with her partners at the Eco Alliance Group, she is working to provide healthy food options to food desert areas with indoor vertical farms and grocery stores.

In addition to real estate investing, Felecia is a licensed urological surgeon with over 20 years of experience. She has written many Best Selling books including "How to Create Wealth that Outlives You". Plus, she is an advocate for sharing the great work others are doing for their community through her podcast Money With Mission Podcast.

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Greg Menefee. When he was growing up, Greg’s perception was that his family was just as well-off as any other. Greg was an avid skier and one year his dad promised him a new pair of $300 skis for the upcoming season. As that season drew closer, the skis never materialized. Greg ultimately mustered the courage to ask his mom about them. It was in that moment that his childhood perceptions crumbled, and Greg learned that his family didn’t have $300 to spare for the skis. As Greg tells us, the skis didn’t really matter to him, but the situation created a money conflict between his mother and father that became a recurring theme. This shaped Greg's approach to money, making him more risk-averse and changing how he discusses financial matters.

Greg Menefee serves as the Senior Vice President of Relationship Management at Orion Advisor Tech. In this role, Greg is the champion of the phrase “Elevate Everything” with his team of consultants who are dedicated to helping advisors maximize their Orion experience and accelerate their firm’s growth goals and potential. A self-proclaimed CX fanatic, Greg brings over two decades of expertise in helping advisors think differently about creating incredible client experiences for their clients. Greg began his career in 1998 with Fidelity Investments, and most recently built and led the Institutional Consulting teams at TD Ameritrade Institutional.

When not working with advisors or reading up on the latest books about client experience, you can find Greg and his wife, Summer on mountain bikes with their kids in the Mountain Biking Capital of the world, Bentonville, AR.

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Justin Breen. Justin started his first company with zero business background. As Justin tells us, at the time he didn't even know what an entrepreneur was. Back then, he was wrapping up a 20-year career as a journalist and decided to leave that profession when his salary was greatly reduced as result of cutbacks. He tried to find a different journalism job but couldn’t, so he started a business instead and hasn’t looked back.

Justin is the Founder and CEO of the global PR firm BrEpic and the exclusive connectivity platform BrEpic Network. His newest book, “Epic Life”, features a foreword from Dr. Peter Diamandis and has been the number one overall book for sales on Amazon Kindle. It also recently made the Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestseller lists.

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is James Scruggs. As young adult, James thought stocks were the key to accumulating wealth and making a lot of money. He invested his first bonus in telecom stocks, at just the wrong time and sadly lost everything. This experience shattered James, as he always wanted to be different from his parents, who, James tells us, aren’t savers. Seeking advice, he turned to a friend who recommended the book "Rich Dad Poor Dad" by Robert Kiyosaki. Reading this book changed James' life and helped shape him into who he is today.

James is the CEO and President of Kingdom Development Partners and J.S. & Son’s Construction Company, LLC. A native of Long Island, NY but a Charlottean at heart. James has over two decades in real estate development, construction, and brokerage after leaving a successful career as a Bond trader. He has developed, built, owned, and operated a portfolio of income producing single-family, multifamily, and assisted living communities.

James is a licensed real estate broker, and general contractor in the state of North Carolina. He received his B.A. from the University of Virginia in 2000 and a Master of Science in Real Estate from the UNC-Charlotte where he was the recipient of the distinguished Childress Klein fellowship. After graduation he joined Bank of America as a Commercial Paper Trader. James founded J.S. & Associates, Inc. (JSA) in 2002, which is central to his vision of economic development and self-sufficiency for families in the greater Charlotte area.

Since relocating to Charlotte, James has been making a name for himself in real estate development with a particular focus on the most up-and-coming neighborhoods in The Queen City. After years in finance with Bank of America, he joined Helen Adams Realty because it shares his commitment to customer service, authenticity, and reliability. James’ strengths are unlimited drive and creativity, very strong interpersonal skills, a wealth of investment knowledge, a thorough understanding of real estate growth trends in and around Charlotte, and most importantly, unwavering integrity.

Through JSA, he has acquired 30 single-family homes and two apartment complexes. He has also used JSA to improve neighborhoods by restoring dilapidated homes or even tearing them down in order to construct brand new homes in their place. JSA has also allowed him to educate other investors and new homeowners through a quarterly web-based newsletter he produces on all aspects of investing in real estate in smart, sensible ways. As CEO of JSA, James also delivers free investment seminars that educate folks on buying and keeping properties.

James is married to his gorgeous wife Makila who is the Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at Trane Technologies. James has an amazing 12-year-old son named Jaden and an eight-year-old son named Malachi. After a successful seven-year career in the financial banking industry, he made a major life and career change by committing his life to serving those with Alzheimer’s Disease. He is the founder and former president of Unlimited Possibilities, a unique ministry dedicated to changing the way elders are cared for today and in the future. A driving influence of his life change was a book called “Rich Dad Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki. It demonstrated that life is essentially about the legacy you leave behind and how you affect others, in business and personally. Helping others have the ability to live a life with dignity, compassion and purpose are the signature of his communities that he has created for older adults. He plans to continue this mission and offer the best care for seniors and older adults with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Robyn Crane. Robyn started her career as a singer-songwriter. At one point, she had worked really hard to set up a number of shows at some great venues. Right before the tour, Robyn got sick, and she had to cancel the shows. This heart-breaking experience made her realize she had little control over her success. Robyn could be the best singer, the best songwriter, but she had very little control over her financial future. It wasn't until she discovered her desire to transform people's lives that she found a new path.

Robyn holds a CFP® and is a keynote speaker, best-selling author and leading business coach for financial professionals. She’s shared the stage and/or podcasts with thought leaders such as Richard Branson, Mel Robbins, Michael Kitces, Grant Cardone and Rachel Cruze. She is known for engaging and inspiring audiences and has spoken at events such as: Financial Planning Association (FPA), Women in Insurance & Financial Services (WIFS), Traffic & Conversion, Guardian Life and Prudential Financial. She has been featured in O, Oprah magazine, Fortune, Entrepreneur, Wall St. Journal as well as ABC, NBC, Fox Business News and the works. In the financial industry, she is best known for her book called, “Make More Money, Help More People,” and podcast, “Growing Your Financial Business…The Woman’s Way.” Her company’s mission is to create a paradigm shift in financial services to being more welcoming and accommodating for women. Part of the initiative to do this is a specific focus on increasing the footprint of women in the financial industry from ~24% to 50%. At home, Robyn keeps busy with her three-, five- and 16-year-olds and entrepreneurial husband. She also loves playing tennis, pickleball and occasionally steals the mic to sing ‘Shoop’ (if she’s in a crazy mood) or ‘Ain’t no sunshine’ (if she’s feeling more seductive).

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Marguerite C. Lorenz, CTFA, CLPF. Marguerite has navigated many challenges in her life. One occurred in October 2007 when her home, along with over 100 others in her neighborhood, burned to the ground. Marguerite and her two children, who were in middle school at the time, lost everything. This included some objects, that they didn’t realize until later, attached them to certain family memories. There were two strong forces that helped Marguerite’s family at the time. First was a loving community that came together to provide for them. And the second was solid insurance coverage that provided them financial footing as they reestablished their lives after the disaster.

Since 2003, Marguerite has been a managing partner of Lorenz Private Trustees and has served as a Professional Trustee and Executor on over 100 matters. Her book, Ethics for Trustees 2.0, gives further understanding to the work of a Fiduciary and its ethical considerations. Marguerite also serves as Vice-Chair of the Board for the Independent Trustee Alliance (ITA).

Marguerite's experience includes, but is not limited to, residential and commercial real estate, high net worth and ultra-high net worth families, multi-family housing, fiduciary management of corporations, coin, art and book collections, investment accounts and vessels. Her clients have properties in California and other states. She enjoys those matters where the parent, or grandparent, has worked hard to build the family business and wishes to keep their assets in trust for the protection and enjoyment of their family, kids and grandkids.

Marguerite is a California Licensed Professional Fiduciary (#319), a Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA) #87097, and a Master Certified Independent Trustee (MCIT) through the ITA. She has been awarded Certification through the Institute of Certified Bankers/American Bankers Association. She is a Graduate of the National Trust School, American Bankers Association at Northwestern University and holds a Certificate in Professional Fiduciary Management for Trustees from California State University, Fullerton.

Ms. Lorenz serves as an expert witness on criminal matters. Marguerite serves her clients in California and beyond. In the past, Governor Brown appointed Marguerite to serve a four-year term as a Member of the California Professional Fiduciaries Advisory Committee. Under her leadership, the Bureau developed various educational publications and extended the national awareness of the fiduciary profession.

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Kathi Balasek. Life can take unexpected turns and change in an instant. For Kathi, life went from wife to caregiver to widow when her husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Suddenly, she was left to parent five kids on her own. The experience taught Kathi the importance of having a dream team of professionals to help navigate life's challenges.

Kathi is an educator, empathy and grief communication coach, university lecturer, speaker and widow advocate. Experiencing the uniqueness of widowhood firsthand, she learned that the relationship between professionals and people who grieve is pivotal. Combining her 25 years of teaching, coaching and personal experience, she created Grief Smart Professional as a tool to help professionals connect and support their people and clients who are experiencing loss and grief.

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Samantha Varner. Over the last 15 years or so, Sam has moved with her husband to three different countries. Each move came soon after the birth of a child. While her husband’s career prompted the relocations, Sam, an entrepreneur at heart, continued to focus on her own career. Sadly, the international moves disrupted her plans because of the different tax structures and regulations. Sam decided to figure out a way to make a business that would be like a turtle shell, a business she could take with her regardless of where she ended up. That’s exactly what she did.

Sam is the founder of She Collective. She is on a mission to show business owners just how they can live full and robust lives while building massively profitable businesses. Using her CRUSH formula, Sam takes her 15+ years of experience in public relations, sales and business development to teach driven entrepreneurs how to create wealth through business ownership. From speaking on stage to hosting her podcast, She Needs Grit, Sam is the ass-kicking profit coach for the driven entrepreneur.

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Joi Jackson-Morgan. When Joi was eleven years old, she earned her first paycheck as a newspaper delivery person. She distinctly remembers it was for $40.72. Joi wanted to use the money to buy a new pair of shoes. Her mom had different plans. Joi’s mother took her to the local bank and helped Joi open an account and use the money to buy a savings bond. By her mom’s math that bond would be worth double by the time Joi was 18. She was right. That money enabled Joi to buy a much-needed book later on when she was in college. As you’ll hear, this crash course in savings, at an early age, drilled important money habits in Joi that she’s leveraged ever since.

Joi is the Executive Director at 3rd Street Youth Center & Clinic. Joi’s most important contribution to 3rd Street has been her ability to combine insight into the history of the neighborhood with both her formal education in public health and her professional experience. She was born and raised in Bayview Hunters Point, the Southeast sector of San Francisco. She has worked as a math and science teacher at several Bay Area junior high and high schools and as a research assistant on community-based health studies. Joi’s broad experience and education in health and education inform her approach to working with individual youth and the community as a whole.

Under Joi’s leadership, 3rd Street has experienced exponential growth fortifying its standing as a leader in housing and behavioral health services for young people, and recently opened San Francisco's first TAY Navigation Center for young adults experiencing homelessness. Joi is committed to centering the importance of racial equity and justice to end youth homelessness.

Joi is currently the Co-Chair of the Black/African American Health Initiative on Sexually Transmitted Infections (BAAHISTI). She received her Master of Public Health from Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science and her Bachelor of Science in Biology at California State University-East Bay.