The Marc Lowe Show

Can Your Business Actually Fund Your Retirement?

For many small business owners, the goal isn't to stop working completely. It's to have the freedom to choose how much they work, when they work, and when they step away.

But there's a problem: many business owners have a huge portion of their net worth tied up in their business.

In this episode, I talk about why your business shouldn't be your only retirement plan and what happens when you need to slow down before you're ready—because of burnout, health issues, or simply wanting to spend more time with family.

We'll look at:

• Why being owner-dependent can make a business difficult to sell

• How systems, processes, and key employees can increase the value of a business

• Why you shouldn't assume you'll be able to sell your business for the price you expect

• What COVID, rising interest rates, and changing market conditions can teach us about business exit risk

• How to determine whether you could retire without selling your business

• Building wealth outside the business through retirement accounts, brokerage accounts, cash reserves, and real estate

• The difference between building a business that requires you and building a business that can operate without you

• Why the ultimate goal may not be traditional retirement—but making work optional

I also share some of my own experience running an owner-dependent restaurant and the lessons that experience taught me about systems, delegation, and building financial independence outside of the business.

If you're a business owner in your 50s or 60s, the question isn't just "What is my business worth?"

It's "What happens to my retirement plan if I can't—or don't want to—run this business anymore?"

Information presented was believed to be factual and up-to-date as of the date of recording, but no guarantee is made to its accuracy and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. Discussions and answers to questions do not involve the rendering of personalized investment advice, but are limited to the dissemination of general information. A professional advisor should be consulted before implementing any of the subjects presented.

Advisory services offered through In The Money Retirement Planning LLC is an investment adviser registered with the state of Connecticut. For disclosure information please visit: https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/332715

In this episode, we dig into one of the most common—and quietly frustrating—money questions people face today: Why does it still feel like I'm barely getting ahead, even though I'm earning more than ever?

Whether you're a six‑figure earner, a growing business owner, or someone who's worked hard to level up financially, this conversation breaks down the real reasons money can still feel tight. We explore:

• The hidden impact of inflation and rising costs
• How lifestyle creep sneaks into your budget
• Why debt over 30% of your income becomes a financial chokehold
• The small, everyday spending habits that quietly drain wealth
• Cash‑flow leaks most people overlook
• The role your personal money personality plays in your financial decisions

You'll walk away with a clearer understanding of where your money is actually going—and how to start reclaiming control without guilt, shame, or extreme budgeting.

At the end, we tee up the next episode, where we'll break down the four money personality types and help you identify your own.

If you've ever wondered, "Why doesn't my income feel like enough?" this episode will give you the clarity you've been missing.

Why do so many financial plans look good on paper—but fall apart in real life?

In this episode, we break down the real reason most people struggle to stay consistent with their finances. It's not a lack of discipline. It's not a lack of knowledge. It's that the plan they're following was never built for how they actually live, earn, and think.

We talk about:

• Why traditional financial advice doesn't work for business owners and independent professionals

• The hidden role behavior, habits, and emotions play in your financial success

• A real client story of going from less than $1,000 in savings to owning multiple properties

• The 3 elements every financial plan needs to actually work in the real world

If you've ever felt like you're doing all the "right things" but not getting ahead, this episode will help you rethink how your plan should be built.

Because real financial success isn't about being perfect—it's about building a system you can stick with.

Why do intelligent, successful people still make poor financial decisions?

In the first episode of The Marc Lowe Show, Marc dives into one of the most misunderstood truths about money: financial mistakes are rarely about intelligence — they're about psychology.

Drawing from real conversations with clients, Marc explores how subconscious beliefs, childhood money experiences, and emotional forces like fear and greed quietly shape the decisions we make every day. From inheritances to spending habits to risk tolerance, many financial choices aren't driven by logic alone — they're influenced by the behaviors and patterns we learned long before we realized it.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why being "smart" doesn't automatically lead to good financial outcomes

• How emotional triggers like fear and greed influence decision-making

• The powerful role your upbringing plays in shaping money habits

• Common mistakes people make after major life events like receiving an inheritance

• How to become more intentional and aware of your financial behavior

This episode also introduces the mission behind The Marc Lowe Show — bringing together conversations with experts ranging from CPAs and therapists to attorneys and industry professionals to explore the intersection of psychology, money, and real life.

If you've ever wondered why logical financial decisions feel harder than they should — this episode is for you.

Disclaimer: Information presented was believed to be factual and up-to-date as of the date of recording, but no guarantee is made to its accuracy and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. Discussions and answers to questions do not involve the rendering of personalized investment advice, but are limited to the dissemination of general information. A professional advisor should be consulted before implementing any of the subjects presented.

Advisory services offered through In The Money Retirement Planning LLC is an investment adviser registered with the state of Connecticut. For disclosure information please visit: https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/332715