The Balance Sheet

Hosts Nicholas Brown and Derek Taylor sit down with Lauren Gore and Ryan Martin from LDR Partners (LDR) to mark Mariner Fund I's first committed investment — a partnership with LDR, a firm dedicated to investing in American manufacturing. They share insights on the mission behind their investment strategies, combining their backgrounds in military service and community engagement. The discussion emphasizes the importance of meaningful contributions and the potential of the American manufacturing sector.

Business continuity doesn't happen by chance—it happens through planning.

In this episode of The Balance Sheet, Nick Brown is joined by Matt Veatch, Head of Corporate & Business Solutions at Lion Street, to discuss the strategies business owners need to protect their companies, retain key executives, and prepare for successful succession. From buy-sell agreements to executive benefits and risk protection, they explore practical planning concepts that can help preserve both business value and long-term legacy.

Disclosure: Any numbers, examples, illustrations, projections, or return assumptions discussed in this episode are hypothetical and are provided for educational purposes only. They are not intended to represent the actual performance of any specific investment, strategy, insurance product, business, or client situation, and they should not be relied upon as a prediction or guarantee of future results. Actual outcomes will vary based on market conditions, tax treatment, fees and expenses, product terms, underwriting, individual circumstances, and other factors. Past performance, hypothetical performance, projected results, or illustrative examples do not guarantee future returns or outcomes. Listeners should consult with their financial, legal, tax, and insurance professionals before implementing any strategy discussed.

On the latest episode of The Balance Sheet, host Derek Taylor sits down with Jim Villa, CEO of NAIOP Wisconsin, for a conversation about why Wisconsin continues to attract investors, business owners, and families seeking more than financial success. From commercial real estate and economic growth to Door County weekends, Summerfest, Brewers games, and lake country traditions, Derek and Jim explore how lifestyle, community, and experiences are becoming a key part of what defines true wealth today.

In this episode of The Balance Sheet, Derek Taylor sits down with Carter Olles of Nautilus Real Estate Investments to discuss suburban multifamily opportunities and the current private real estate landscape.

They explore housing supply and affordability trends, why the Midwest is a focus, and how investment opportunities are sourced and evaluated. The conversation also highlights a recent Kansas City project and broader considerations around income potential, tax characteristics, and diversification within multifamily real estate.

This episode is for educational purposes only and provides insight into how experienced operators approach today’s market environment. The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Granite Harbor.

In this special launch episode of The Balance Sheet podcast, Granite Harbor Managing Partner Nick Brown sits down with Derek Taylor, Managing Partner of Granite Harbor Capital, to announce the official launch of Mariner Fund I and discuss the firm’s expansion into private markets.

Derek shares his professional background spanning transactional law, private equity real estate, owner-operator manufacturing, and lower middle-market investing, and explains how that experience informs the strategy behind Mariner Fund I. The conversation outlines why Granite Harbor formed a dedicated private markets platform and how the fund aligns with the firm’s long-standing fiduciary, planning-first approach.

Mariner Fund I is structured as an opportunity fund, allowing Granite Harbor to deploy committed capital into a curated mix of private equity operating companies, commercial real estate, and select private credit opportunities. The fund emphasizes direct sourcing, off-market transactions, and operator-driven diligence, bringing investors closer to the deal, improving alignment, and enabling faster execution.

A key focus of the fund is the Central United States, where the Granite Harbor team sees significant opportunity in overlooked lower middle-market businesses and growing secondary and tertiary real estate markets. These regions offer attractive fundamentals, strong employer-driven growth, and less competition from large institutional capital.

Throughout the episode, Nick and Derek discuss why proximity to operators and sponsors matters in private investing, how Granite Harbor’s institutional diligence process is applied across all opportunities, the benefits of consolidating multiple private investments into a single fund commitment, the fund’s target size and investment horizon, and the firm’s exit-focused philosophy. They also share representative examples of real estate and operating company opportunities currently being evaluated for inclusion in the fund.

The episode reinforces Granite Harbor’s belief that private markets can play a meaningful role in long-term portfolio construction when paired with disciplined underwriting, active oversight, and thoughtful integration into a client’s broader financial plan.

Mariner Fund I is available exclusively to qualified investors.

To learn more, visit GraniteHarbor.com or contact [email protected]

This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute an offer or solicitation. All investments involve risk. Please review all offering materials and consult your financial and legal advisors before investing.

In this episode of The Balance Sheet, host Nicholas Brown, Managing Partner at Granite Harbor Advisors, sits down with longtime friend, CPA, and valuation expert Craig Fortson, owner of Fortson & Company, a Houston firm with nearly five decades of experience navigating the ever-shifting tax landscape.

Together, Nick and Craig break down the big tax story of 2025: meaningful changes that didn’t happen, extensions that did, and what those updates really mean for business owners, high-net-worth families, and anyone trying to maximize tax efficiency before year-end. From the permanence of the 199A deduction to state and local tax updates, untaxed overtime provisions, bonus depreciation, and new nuances for seniors and teachers, Craig brings clarity to a year full of tax noise.

Craig also leaves listeners with two powerful closing reminders you don't want to miss!

Whether you're a business owner preparing for year-end, an investor looking ahead, or simply curious about what’s changing (and what’s not), this episode offers clear, actionable insight straight from a seasoned CPA.

Resources:

Learn more about Granite Harbor Advisors at graniteharbor.com

Connect with Craig at fortsonandco.com

Tune in, take notes, and walk into year-end with confidence.

In this episode of The Balance Sheet, Managing Partner Brian Sak sits down with Tiffany Hyde, Head of Underwriting at Lion Street, for an in-depth look at the vital connection between health, lifestyle, and insurability. Together, they unpack the often-overlooked details behind the underwriting process — from what underwriters truly assess to how preparation and transparency can accelerate approval for high-net-worth clients.

Listeners will gain insight into how healthy habits and proactive primary care can improve underwriting outcomes, and learn what a “strong medical profile” really looks like. Tiffany also shares how emerging technologies — like digital health records, wearables, and AI — are reshaping underwriting efficiency and personalization.

Whether you’re an advisor helping clients navigate life insurance or an individual preparing for your own underwriting process, this 40-minute episode delivers practical takeaways, expert tips, and a forward-looking perspective on the evolving world of insuring wellness.

We had the pleasure of having our firm's Chief Operating and Compliance Officer, Tasha Slawson, IACCP® as our host on The Balance Sheet! She was joined by a guest near and dear to her heart, Gary Whitehead, CPA, MBA, and we are thrilled to share insights from these two masterminds on Embracing a Growth Mindset -- how taking risks, staying curious, and stepping into the unknown can lead to personal and professional breakthroughs!

In this episode, Caleb Christian, CFP hosts guest Emily Galindo, co-owner of Next Level NIA. They discuss the power of networking in shaping opportunity, wealth, and mindset. Emphasizing the limitations of working in isolation and the mindset shift required to open oneself to collaboration and connection.

In this episode of The Balance Sheet, host Dale Shaw sits down with Brian Sak, Managing Partner at Granite Harbor Advisors, to unpack the complex world of irrevocable trusts. They explore the fundamentals of trust planning, compare revocable and irrevocable structures, and highlight strategic tools like SLATs, ILITs, and GRATs used in advanced estate planning. Brian shares practical examples and insights into how thoughtful trust design can reduce tax exposure, preserve family harmony, and build a lasting legacy. The discussion also touches on upcoming tax legislation and the importance of proactive planning in an ever-changing legal landscape.