The Above Board Podcast

Hosted by CandorPath Financial

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190

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Many of us are seeking ways to create fulfillment and get better throughout our journey in life. From personal finances to personal development, our conversations are infused with honesty, transparency, and a dash of humor. Hosted by John Kennedy, CFP®, Matthew Marcoux, CFP® and TheRichB. © 2024 CandorPath Financial. All Rights Reserved. Securities offered through J.W. Cole Financial, Inc. (JWC) Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through J.W. Cole Advisors, Inc. (JWCA). CandorPath Financial and JWC/JWCA are unaffiliated entities

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June 10, 2026Episode 1899 min

Financial Mediocrity is Expensive

John Kennedy challenges the common mindset of saying “I’m just not good with money,” arguing that in today’s world of budgeting apps and free education, financial apathy is too costly. He explains that unlike 50 years ago, when pensions and stronger Social Security made average money habits less damaging, today retirees often rely on Social Security for only about one-third of expenses, home prices are far higher relative to income, and retirement depends largely on personal saving and investing. Using time-value-of-money examples, he shows how small decisions and delayed action can dramatically reduce long-term outcomes. He emphasizes that wealth is usually built through consistent, boring habits and urges you to take one small step today and share it in the comments. 00:00 Why We Say "Bad With Money" 01:02 Retirement Reality Check 01:33 Housing Costs And Stakes 02:14 Savings Rate Wake Up 03:11 Financial Apathy Is Normalized 04:09 Delayed Consequences And Drift 04:44 Compounding And Starting Early 05:32 Wealth Is Boring Habits 07:27 Plant Seeds For Momentum 08:10 Your One Step Challenge

June 3, 2026Episode 1889 min

The Compound Effect of Discipline

Everybody wants the result, but few people stick with the discipline it takes to get there. In this episode, John Kennedy explores the compound effect of discipline, why consistency matters more than motivation, and how small actions repeated over time can create remarkable results. From finances and health to relationships and personal growth, this conversation is a reminder that lasting progress is built one intentional step at a time. If you've been waiting for the perfect moment to start, this episode is your encouragement to begin where you are and keep showing up! 00:00 Everybody Wants Results 00:27 Motivation vs Discipline 00:54 Earned Dopamine Momentum 01:36 Tim Grover Relentless 02:07 Quiet Discipline Pays 02:29 Money Example First 100K 03:27 Momentum Next 100K 04:16 Grand Slam Trap 05:34 Discipline Creates Peace 06:14 Identity Shift Habits 06:46 Show Up Regardless 07:33 Encouragement To Start

May 20, 2026Episode 18748 min

Navigating Life's Messy Middle with Lisa Begley

In this episode, John sits down with Lisa Begley, author of The Sock Drawer Philosophy and host of the Sock Drawer Podcast, to talk about navigating life’s messy middle. Lisa shares how major life transitions, career changes, and a few hard lessons helped shape her perspective on growth, resilience, and moving forward even when things feel unclear. She explains the “sock drawer” metaphor for life’s chaos and walks through her D-R-A-W-E-R™ Method for making progress without needing everything to be perfect first. Tune into The Sock Drawer Podcast Want a free book copy of The Sock Drawer Philosophy? Text the CandorPath team at 407-904-8414! 00:00 Meet Lisa Begley 01:32 Real Life Messy Middle 02:51 Retirement Reinvention 05:41 Authenticity Over Perfection 07:14 Sock Drawer Philosophy 09:27 Signs and Sock Stories 12:53 Trauma and Feeling Stuck 15:31 Decide to Move Forward 19:56 Tiny Dare Accountability 21:07 Money Mindset Parallels 24:56 Introducing the D-R-A-W-E-R Method 29:43 Apply What You Know 41:49 Why Mentors Matter 45:39 Book Giveaway

April 15, 2026Episode 1868 min

The Arrival Fallacy

John Kennedy explains the “Arrival Fallacy;" the belief that happiness will come once you reach a milestone like a certain net worth, retirement, or business success, only to find the feeling quickly fades. He breaks down hedonic adaptation (happiness returning to a baseline) and how dopamine is more tied to anticipation and pursuit than achievement, which is why many high achievers and retirees can feel lost after “arriving.” John argues that lasting fulfillment comes from valuing the process, consistent progress, and meaningful pursuits rather than a single outcome. 00:33 What Is Arrival Fallacy? 01:35 Hedonic Adaptation Explained 02:21 Dopamine and Pursuit 03:20 Success After the Summit 03:56 Retirement and Identity Shift 04:35 Value the Process 04:58 Softball Story Lesson 06:53 Redefining Success 07:33 Keep Your Brain Moving

April 8, 2026Episode 18542 min

This Ain't Your Grandparent's Retirement with Brandon Hatcher EP 0185

On this episode of The Above Board podcast, John welcomes back Brandon Hatcher to discuss how to be “retire ready” beyond just finances, building on Brandon’s recent retire-ready checklist event and their earlier “Power of Positive Aging” episode. They explore how retirement can trigger boredom or an identity crisis, why today’s longer, healthier retirements require purpose, routine, and continued growth, and how to use the “what it’s not” exercise to define an ideal retirement (e.g., not endless TV, not doom-scrolling, not wasting time). They highlight the importance of community, family and grandkids, health, and aligning expectations with a spouse, including trying a sabbatical or “soft retirement” before fully stopping work. They also briefly cover key financial basics: defining desired lifestyle and cash flow, building income sources, using tax-diversified accounts (taxable, IRA, Roth), and keeping taxes low. "Your Retire Ready Checklist" Webinar: https://youtu.be/aW8zxVFUpM4 02:08 Beyond Money Retirement 03:13 Identity Crisis After Work 07:43 'What It's Not' Game 10:04 Build a Daily Routine 15:16 Try a Retirement Sabbatical 16:26 Family and Grandkids Rhythm 19:30 Community Without Isolation 21:57 Money Enables Meaning 22:45 Financial Therapy Talks 27:39 Mindfulness Shelf Method 30:20 Learning And Growth Plans 34:07 Funding Your Retirement 39:06 Health And Partner Alignment 40:43 Try It Before Retiring 41:25 Closing Quote

April 1, 2026Episode 18450 min

The Power of Awareness in a Shortcut Society w TheRichB

We live in a world that pushes shortcuts: quick wins, fast answers, and surface-level thinking. In this episode, John and Rich talk about why that mindset shows up in your finances and lifestyle, how it leads to frustration, and why real progress comes from slowing down and building awareness first. If you’ve ever felt stuck or tempted to skip the basics, this conversation will help you reset and refocus. 01:45 Shorts vs Attention Spans 05:27 Brain Rot and Dopamine 06:17 News Extremes Example 11:12 AI Future and Jobs 14:52 Human Skills Still Matter 17:39 Life Hacks and Shortcuts 20:46 Motivation Content Trap 24:58 Viral Speed of Trends 26:37 Loneliness and Disconnection 29:48 Online Connection Paradox 32:23 Social Media Engagement Spiral 36:45 Shortcuts Versus Scenic Route 39:33 Hard Work and Saving Hurts 44:57 Dopamine and Steroid Shortcuts 46:53 Do More Than Watch!

March 4, 2026Episode 18344 min

Building Authentic Leadership in a Digital World with Jess Jensen

In this episode, we sit down with Jess Jensen, founder of Co-Pilot Communications, to talk about building authentic leadership in a digital world. After nearly 20 years inside Fortune 100 companies like Microsoft and Qualcomm, Jess now helps executives and founders find their voice, clarify their message, and show up online in a way that actually reflects who they are. We unpack why differences sell, how vulnerability builds credibility (not weakens it), the real role of AI in content creation, and why LinkedIn and podcasting are powerful tools for modern leaders. How to Stay Connected with Jess & CO-Pilot Communications: This April, Jess is launching ALTITUDE—a private LinkedIn branding cohort for small business owners on the rise. Only 8 spots. Registration opens in March. Join the waitlist here: www.copilotcommunications.com/altitude-waitlist Or, connect with Jess on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicakjensen/ 00:00 Guest Intro 01:32 Unreasonable Hospitality 04:03 Radical Candor and Trust 05:14 Digital Presence Funnel 11:03 AI and Authentic Content 20:21 Client Process and Storytelling 25:03 Setting Story Boundaries 25:45 Vulnerability Builds Credibility 31:23 Authenticity Shapes Team Culture 34:46 Dark Social Flywheel 37:36 Podcasting and LinkedIn Strategy

February 25, 2026Episode 18211 min

Most Financial Mistakes Aren't Math Problems

Most financial mistakes aren’t math problems… they’re mindset problems. In this episode, John unpacks why knowledge alone isn’t what holds most people back. It’s not that you don’t understand budgeting, investing, or saving. It’s the emotions, habits, fears, and stories underneath your decisions that quietly drive the outcome. We talk about behavior vs. strategy, why self-awareness matters more than spreadsheets, and how to start making financial decisions that align with who you want to become, not just what the numbers say. 00:00 “Just Make $273/Day” Money Math Misses the Point 01:13 Hard Work Isn’t the Problem: The Real Causes of Money Stress 02:35 The 3 Gaps: Discipline, Awareness, and Identity 04:00 Gap #1 — The Discipline Gap (Knowing vs. Doing) 04:37 Gap #2 — The Awareness Gap (Measure Your Burn Rate & Savings Rate) 06:34 Gap #3 — The Identity Gap (Your Money Story Shapes Your Behavior) 07:58 Practical 4-Step Reset: Track, Automate, Cancel, Money Date 10:28 Share This + Get Help at YourMoneyStory.app

February 18, 2026Episode 1811 hr 1 min

Created to Create with Pia Mailhot-Leichter

John sits down with Pia to explore the connection between creativity, conviction, and living with purpose. They talk about what it means to create from a place of clarity, how culture shapes expression, and the courage it takes to live authentically. It’s a thoughtful conversation about identity, purpose, and using your creativity in a way that reflects who you truly are. Resources from Pia and the Kollectiv Studio: Learn More about The Kollectiv Studio Welcome to the Creative Club: Make Life Your Biggest Art Project 01:20 Redefining Creativity 03:53 Pia's Personal Journey and Career Shift 06:03 The Impact of Creativity in Life and Work 07:46 Rediscovering Intuition and Overcoming Fear 14:49 Balancing Productivity and Presence 27:30 Embracing Peace and Self-Service 33:35 Unleashing Creativity: John's Journey 34:21 The Importance of Self-Integrity 39:04 The Power of Slowing Down 40:29 Creating Space for Creativity 42:50 Finding Flow State 58:32 'Welcome to The Creative Club'

February 11, 2026Episode 18011 min

Spending Up vs Spending Down

Most money stress isn’t about income, it’s about how money flows. In this episode, John Kennedy, CFP® breaks down the difference between spending up and spending down, why budgeting often feels frustrating, and how small system changes can create real clarity. He shares a simple framework for managing cash flow and building habits that actually stick. If you’ve ever felt like you’re earning enough but still wondering where your money went, this episode will help you reset the way you think about spending. Resources mentioned: Free Financial Online Course: YourMoneyStory.app Live Webinar on Feb. 17th - Your Money Flows: Bringing Order to Your Daily Budget 00:09 The Real Problem: Money Psychology 02:14 Spending Up vs. Spending Down 05:21 The Power of Cash Flow Management 05:57 Implementing the Three-Account System 08:15 Join Our Free Online Course