Episode #7
I Have Lived 100s of Lives - Purpose with Mark Bertrang
Mark Bertrang talks through the theme "I have lived hundreds of lives"—safe questions families rarely get asked, multi-generational relationships, landmines vs. incoming missiles, and the only destination he promises to aim for: The wonderful world of being okay™. Book: Investments Don't Hug — search Mark Bertrang or Investments Don't Hug. Chapters: 0:00 Feeling Groovy & first impressions Opening banter, Simon & Garfunkel, and why Paul Simon's hands look the way they do—plus a reminder not to assume what you see. 1:16 Welcome to Purpose with Mark Bertrang Show open and the thread that runs through the episode: notice the details, keep going while the work is still worth doing. 3:31 Politics is local (and I'm in the middle) Garbage pickup, leashed dogs, and why national noise gets less of his attention than the simple things that actually affect daily life. 6:25 Seeing both sides Kolbe 4-3-9-2, "expert in my own opinion," and why a whole-picture view helps families more than a single linear answer. 9:34 I have lived hundreds of lives The theme of the week: most people live one life. Walking with many families means you stop being shocked—and people finally feel safe enough to tell the truth. 12:34 The question that drops the shoulders Asking about a special-needs person in the family (child, sibling, grandchild, or someone they feel responsible for) and why that question belongs in a real financial conversation. 15:06 Two checkbooks, then one household A young couple living within their means, the $50 + $50 story, and how money duties shifted between spouses over the years. 20:42 Don't miss the next episode Subscribe, like, and share so the next conversation actually finds you. 21:23 Four generations on the same path Meeting a client on his wedding day, working with his parents for 30+ years, and walking with families through both the good and the unexpected. 24:49 When the hard things arrive Presence over speeches after loss, illness that changes everything, and learning what to say only after you've walked it more than once. 28:26 Every rock holds up the wall The dry-stone wall: big stones and tiny stones all matter. A "small" life is still load-bearing if you can see where it fits. 31:04 Stick figures on the big whiteboard How the Lab presentation works: today → future, squeaky marker and all. 36:02 Personal landmines Job loss, disability, death, aging, and the other boxes families name themselves—not the advisor's list. 41:03 Incoming missiles and an Iron Dome Social Security, taxes, markets, politics, medical costs—threats you don't control—and the goal of skipping over what you can and catching what you can. 47:21 The wonderful world of being okay Not a promise to make anyone rich. A purpose: give families a real shot at being okay with the resources they actually have. 49:48 Who watches the pastor's back? Why clergy often show up as clients, Christmas and funerals that steal family time, and hiring for soul—not just math. 53:06 Bananas, shareables, and cookie-dough sin Convenience-store design, the 20-cent "candy bar," and why behavior is harder to teach than numbers. 57:47 Their concerns, not my plan Walk the path together, wait when people aren't ready, and remember this is not a sprint or even a marathon. 1:00:47 The numbers come second Closing: the reason for the work isn't the spreadsheet. Help people get to what matters, then deal with the numbers. #Financialoscopy #OnalaskaWI #FinancialAdvisorLaCrosse #WealthManagement #FinancialPlannerLaCrosse
