Welcome back to Together at the Top, where Nick Warner sits down with returning guest Jason Moncada, Director of Solutions at E-Tech Group. In this deeply personal and inspiring conversation, Nick explores the architecture of a self-made life, tracing Jason's remarkable journey from humble beginnings to a C-suite trajectory. Together, they dive into the critical intersection of professional ambition and personal finance, discussing how to build lasting wealth and break generational cycles. The episode provides a powerful blueprint for emerging leaders on managing success, finding your core motivation, and developing the financial discipline to support your goals.

Jason offers a masterclass in advanced fiscal health, detailing his shift from a paycheck-to-paycheck mindset to a proactive strategy of wealth management, early retirement planning, and long-term investment. He reveals that his relentless drive is not just for professional achievement but is deeply rooted in honoring his family’s sacrifices and creating new opportunities for his children. This conversation goes beyond the balance sheet to examine the soulful side of leadership, including the art of hiring, the power of vulnerability, and the importance of having a plan that aligns your career with your life. Listen in to gain invaluable, real-world advice on how to build a life of purpose and prosperity, no matter where you start.

Episode Highlights:

• The critical importance of early and consistent financial planning for long-term wealth.
• How to move beyond a paycheck-to-paycheck mindset, even as your income grows.
• The power of honoring past sacrifices to fuel future ambitions and break generational cycles.
• Using family and personal goals as the ultimate motivation for professional success.
• Why hiring is more of an art than a science and the keys to building a rockstar team.
• The leadership lesson of learning empathy and tailoring communication to your people.
• How to create a life plan that integrates career, family, and financial health.
• The necessity of being "obsessed" and ignoring external timelines to accelerate your career trajectory.

Key Takeaways:

"You can make a lot of money, but if you don't manage it correctly, you end up with nothing."

"I can't continue to max out my paycheck and then turn around and blame my employer and say, 'Oh, they're not paying me enough.'"

"I’ve got to go do what I’ve got to go do for my family, and I can't look at where I came from and hold myself down."

"I've failed as a leader many times. I've had people quit on me because of the way I communicated sometimes."

"High tides raise all ships."

"If anybody ever tells you you're doing too much, it's probably because you're doing something right."

Links:

Nick Warner Consulting: https://www.nickwarnerconsulting.com/

Jason Moncada: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-m-8869a5139/

E Tech Group: https://etechgroup.com/

Who: https://whothebook.com/

Good to Great: https://www.jimcollins.com/books.html

Welcome back to Together at the Top, where Nick is thrilled to have Elliott Dutro, Vice President at the Northern California based BEVL Group, join him for a highly impactful conversation here today. This episode isn't just about money, though financial well being is front and center. It’s a deep exploration of how finding the right financial advisor, someone with mentor-like qualities, can shape not just your portfolio but your entire life. They discuss the journey into the financial world, the critical nature of trust in an advisor-client relationship, and what truly underpins a successful life and career - important stuff.

The conversation unpacks the idea that a financial professional is much more than a "stock jockey," they're a personal board chairperson, guiding through life's financial complexities with wisdom gathered from countless client experiences. Elliott shares his unexpected path to becoming a financial advisor, from an inspiring high school algebra class to understanding the human side of financial decisions during the mortgage crisis. They touch on identifying the right career path, the power of good relationships, and the often unseen traits, like impulse control, that lead to lasting success, as well as how understanding all aspects of a client's life, not just their assets, is absolutely fundamental.

Episode Highlights:

• The immense value of a trusted financial advisor as a guide for life’s financial journey.

• Elliott Dutro's personal story of finding his passion in finance and helping people achieve their goals.

• Building profound trust: a cornerstone for any successful advisor client dynamic and how it's earned.

• Beyond asset management: why a holistic understanding of a client’s life is crucial for top tier financial advice.

• Identifying "right fit" careers and how being in one dramatically impacts personal fulfillment and success.

• Key traits of successful individuals, including a sense of purpose, feeling "behind," and strong impulse control.

• The impact of mentors, both positive and negative, especially those found in unexpected places, like clients.

• Navigating challenges like work life balance and the importance of a strong personal foundation to avoid burnout.

Key Takeaways:

"Your financial advisor is the chairperson of your personal board of directors."

"Setting people up in the right career is a really critical part of establishing that foundation for a great life."

The quality of my advice is limited by my knowledge of the client’s entire situation."

"There’s nothing more critical to an advisor-client relationship than having that trust because sometimes the advice that’s given is counterintuitive."

"Relationship management, basic financial management, and career selection. When you have those things put together... That’s eighty percent of success."

"I think if I had to identify one thing that held people back from reaching their full potential, it would be a lack of openness and vulnerability with themselves and with others."

"It’s so important to build a good personal life so that your professional life doesn’t become a default escape from your personal life."

"A great firm cannot make up for a subpar advisor."

Links:

Nick Warner Consulting: https://www.nickwarnerconsulting.com/

Elliott Dutro: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliott-dutro-208531117/

Nick sits down with a truly impressive figure in public service, Ryan Alsop, the Chief Executive Officer for Napa County in today’s informative and fascinating episode. Ryan's career is a notable path through the demanding world of California government, from LA County to Kern County, and now leading one of the most renowned regions globally. He and Nick get into what it really means to lead, the absolute necessity of staying humble and always learning, and how he thinks about building teams and genuine connections.

Ryan shares a central belief that shapes his entire approach: the need to "get better at everything," a surprising and refreshing take from someone at his level. He talks about the many hats a CEO wears, from understanding complex fiscal issues and managing sensitive personnel matters to navigating a global pandemic, which he did in Kern County. It's this commitment to being always a student – constantly listening, reading, and developing – that really stands out. And it’s not just talk; he lives it, viewing even his best skills as having room for improvement. You do not want to miss this episode - there's so much here for leaders at any stage.

Episode Highlights:

• Ryan's deep belief in humility and the constant need for self improvement

• His philosophy on hiring

• Why authentic connections and truly seeing people are fundamental to Ryan's leadership

• Handling complex California government landscapes with integrity and strategic awareness

• Learning from both positive examples and from behaviors he chooses not to emulate

• The important role his family plays in grounding him, supporting work life balance, and fueling his dedication

• Ryan's passion for creating tangible value in the lives of his team and the wider community he serves

• Finding wisdom and guidance from a wide array of people and experiences

• Valuing broad mentorship

Key Takeaways:

"If you're holding your subordinates' hands too often, you hired the wrong person. Let them do their job."

"Success comes from working hard and being someone others can count on. If you're not counted on, you're discounted."

"Experience changes who you are. With time, you learn to listen more and take yourself less seriously."

"My job is to mitigate chaos, keeping the organization and elected officials on a calm, productive path."

"Be politically astute, but avoid being political. Understand agendas, but don't meddle."

"Nobody likes a know-it-all. Practice humility and learn from others."

"Authenticity is critical. Be genuine and deliberate in your relationships and business dealings."

"Hiring is crucial. Always recruit people smarter than you to build a strong organization."

"Always improve. Stay in school, keep learning, and never stop developing as a person."

"Family is everything. They're the engine that drives you, motivating you through every challenge."

Links:

Nick Warner Consulting: https://www.nickwarnerconsulting.com/

Ryan Alsop: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanalsop1/