Hamilton Brandenburg

12/23/2025

In this episode, I sit down with Joe Cianciolo to talk about why so many succession plans fail before the paperwork is ever signed.

We dig into the difference between building a business through strategy versus building one through people, and why expecting your kids — or successors — to think like you often creates more problems than it solves.

Listen in as Joe and I talk about how stress, wiring, ambition, and upbringing shape the next generation of leaders, and why preparing kids for inheritance isn’t about cushioning them financially, but about equipping them to handle pressure, purpose, and responsibility on their own terms.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blind-spots-legacy-and-the-stories-we-hand-our-kids/id1744203340?i=1000742444696

12/23/2025

In this episode, I sit down with Joe Cianciolo to talk about why so many succession plans fail before the paperwork is ever signed. We dig into the difference between building a business through strategy versus building one through people, and why expecting your kids — or successors — to think l...

11/25/2025

https://brandenburgfs.com/blog/f/stop-looking-for-the-needle

The Myth We Take for Granted

11/04/2025

In this episode of Successfully Retired, I sit down with Scott MacKillop, — a true adventurer in both life and work. Scott started his career as a securities lawyer in Washington D.C., went on to lead five TAMPs, and founded First Ascent Asset Management, the first flat-fee investment platform in ...

10/28/2025

In this home-grown edition of the podcast, I do the unthinkable:

Talk about politics!

Now before you get excited, know that we won't be talking about partisan politics or D.C. powerbrokers.

Instead, I sit down with Woodstock entrepreneur and community-builder Dan Thrailkill to talk about a topic that’s hitting home for a lot of us: why housing feels so out of reach—and what we can actually do about it right here in Cherokee County.

We look at Burlington’s community land trust experiment and how well it really worked before digging into our own county’s proposed “land bank.”

Dan helps me break down the trade-offs, like how these programs affect nearby property values and whether they truly help first-time buyers.

Listen in as we discuss the five L’s of affordability (land, labor, lumber, laws, lending) and why density doesn’t have to be a dirty word.

We get into micro-units, zoning rules that quietly drive up costs, and the choices that help younger families and retirees alike.

Most importantly, we talk about what retirees can do to influence the direction of their community: show up, ask better questions, and advocate for smart policies rather than “do something” shortcuts.

If you care about housing, your neighborhood, your kids’ future here—or just want to understand how these decisions actually get made—this conversation will give you something to think about.

https://brandenburgfs.com/podcast

10/28/2025

In this home-grown edition of the podcast, I do the unthinkable:Talk about politics!Now before you get excited, know that we won't be talking about partisan politics or D.C. powerbrokers. Instead, I sit down with Woodstock entrepreneur and community-builder Dan Thrailkill to talk about a topic that....

10/14/2025

In this episode, I talk about retirement mindset—why happiness in retirement isn’t about money but about curiosity, creativity, and purpose. I share personal examples, read an excerpt from a book, and leave with a story of some of my clients who reinvented their lives in retirement. All that and...

10/07/2025

Rick advertises his Feng Shui episode. I scour the corners of LinkedIn for rage bait. We ask the question you've all been wondering, what's a good reason you should keep working with your financial advisor?All that and more on Successfully Retired.

09/30/2025

"If you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there."Today Rick and I unpack a case study of some new families he's met with who were doing a great job investing and capturing the growth of the market. The problem? They had never checked to see when they personally could retire. The a...

09/23/2025

Ever heard of looking for a needle in a haystack?It's what stock pickers do day in and day out, trying to find the best performing investment. But is it a good strategy?Tune in as Rick Luchini and I discuss a study that digs into the answer to this question, with shocking results, even for passive i...

09/23/2025

It's no surprise to most of us that work is a big part of our identity. Whether it's at a networking event, a little league game, or the neighborhood BBQ people's first question is often "What do you do for work?" Many of our clients are very successful as employees who've climbed the ladder. When t...

09/16/2025

One of the cruel ironies of money is that if you're a really good saver, spending down your investments is a tough mental switch.

In today's episode Rick and I unpack some of our thoughts on why the middle-class millionaire retiree often times spend less than they could afford to - even if there are things they want to spend on!

"Money is fuel, it only serves it's purpose when it's burnt."

Listen in on real-life stories from retirees who made that transition successfully, and ones who struggled to stick the landing.