Tow Professional Podcast

Plan Today Or Pay Later

Darian Weaver

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0:00 | 41:57

A single medical surprise can wipe out years of hard work, especially when you’re self-employed and your income depends on showing up. We sit down with Whitney Williams, financial professional at Cornerstone Advisors Group, to talk about what financial security really looks like for tow operators, owner operators, and 1099 contractors who don’t have employer benefits to fall back on.

We dig into the biggest myth Whitney hears all the time: retirement is only for people with high-paying corporate jobs. She breaks down why retirement planning is still possible for small business owners and independent contractors, as long as you build a strategy early and stick to it. We also talk health insurance options outside an employer, why “I’m healthy” is not a plan, and how one accident can trigger both hospital bills and lost income.

Whitney also shares what happens in a first conversation with a fiduciary, how she builds a full picture of your finances without judgment, and how to match your retirement goals to the lifestyle you actually want. You’ll walk away with clear next steps, including her three-part homework: organize your money, invest in yourself, and get connected with a licensed professional. Plus, we preview her upcoming Shifting into Security seminar geared toward 1099 contractors and transportation pros.

If this helped you, subscribe, share the episode with a coworker, and leave a review so more people in the towing and recovery industry can find it.

Welcome And Why This Matters

SPEAKER_06

Well, welcome one and all. You are there. We are here. This is the Tow Professional On the Go podcast. And remember, listeners, this is your podcast. It's for the pros that have a need to know that are on the go. And it's truly the voice of the towing and recovery industry. Our listeners have made this the number one podcast in industry, over 23,000 worldwide listening, and also gaining a following on YouTube since we're doing this in video format for 2026. So remember, you can find this on anywhere you find your podcast from Spotify, iTunes, Pandora, Stitcher, iHeartMedia, Amazon, and others. So this week, as always, we try and bring in those key guests that can bring us industry information and help us meet the needs of not only our business, but our employees as well. And this podcast is no different, listeners. Today we are happy uh to have on Whitney Williams, and she's the financial professional for Cornerstone, Cornerstone Advisors. And let me tell you something, guys. This is something I've been hoping to bring on is somebody that can advise us for the future going forward. Uh, and today we're gonna dive into it. So make sure you get your pen and pencil out, get you a pad to write on, because we're gonna have some great information here from Whitney. And uh, Miss Williams, Whitney, welcome to the podcast. We're so happy to have you today.

SPEAKER_01

Thanks, Dan. I appreciate it. I'm happy to be here. I'm really excited. I'm really, really excited.

SPEAKER_06

Awesome, awesome. We're glad to have you. And I know you've got some great information from Cornerstone Advisors Group to tell our listeners. So, man, let's dive into this thing. First, uh,

Whitney’s Mission To Educate

SPEAKER_06

Whitney, I want you to tell our listeners a little about yourself and what inspired you to build a career helping individuals, families, and small business owners uh with health insurance and retirement planning.

SPEAKER_01

So, you know, I got into this um financial insurance world a year before my daughter was born. So that's how I can keep track of uh it's been almost a decade and I've been helping people. Um, and what makes me most excited about this um is educating the education portion of it because it's not it's not what people don't make bad decisions, they usually just have don't have the information that they need. So that's pretty much it. So educating folks on what's available to them, what options um are open for them, and how to navigate through those options. So that's pretty much why I love to do what I do to educate.

SPEAKER_06

Man, that and that's fantastic, Wendy, because I always say there's there's two topics in life that we can get things wrong, and it can really cost us. First one's marriage, second one's finance. And those are those are two things that we don't learn about in school, and some people are afraid to ask about it, but as they always say, knowledge is power. So it's power to get educated. So that's why we're so happy to have you. Well, let me ask you this. Um,

Retirement Myth And Starting Early

SPEAKER_06

many people believe retirement is only possible for those with with high-paying corporate jobs. Is that true? And what would you say to someone who who feels like they'll never be able to retire?

SPEAKER_01

No, that is one of the biggest myths, and I can definitely see and understand why people would think that. Um, there are plans that fit all shapes and sizes. We're not all a size 11. You know what I mean? We're not we don't all want the size 11 black. Some people need this because they have a family, some people are just single. Um, some people have young kids, some people have old kids. So your plan and and what you want looks different on an individual basis. Um, I will say just having a strategy is where you need to start. Just having a strategy, putting that in place, talking with someone who can understand and help you understand how to uh build that plan. Um, and it's not always like I have to have this um big pile of money sitting somewhere, or I have to have you know an inheritance from a grandmother or something. No, sometimes the time getting started as soon as possible matters more than the amount that you have. So, yes, although you know, the more money, the better. Of course, we're talking about retirement. But yes, if you get in as soon as you get in and make a plan and stick to that plan and have your goals, it'll be fine. Anyone can retire. It doesn't have to, you don't have to work for Will Sparker.

SPEAKER_06

You can you can work anywhere. Amen. Well, Whitney, I like what you say about that because you're right. A lot of us get in our jobs, we're worried about making the house note, we want to make the the power note, get all that done, and we're young and we're in our 20s, and we're starting to grow in our 30s, and we're we're we're concentrating on that. And and like you said, if I if I wouldn't have looked at it in my early 30s and said, hey, I've got to start putting something back for for Darren when he's 60 and where I'm gonna be, not just living like I'm always gonna be 30, then I would have been in a different spot. So it's uh I like what you said about that. It's really important the sooner, the better to start looking towards retirement. So great, great point. Well, let me ask you this.

Common Planning Gaps For Owner Operators

SPEAKER_06

I I know you work with independent contractors, um, owner operators, small business owners. What are some of the the biggest? And I know you've seen some. So, what are some of the biggest mistakes you've seen them make when it comes to health insurance and planning for retirement?

SPEAKER_01

Man, that was the best segue. You've already answered the question. Think about it as soon as possible. That's that is that's it. So the the biggest thing, and and I want to say, I don't want to say mistake. Um, it's just sometimes we get wrapped up in the day-to-day, like you said, house note, we got this. And if you are an independent contractor, the fuel, the breakdowns, the you know, I gotta make the payments, and I have, you know, uh, I want to invest more in my business, that stuff can inundate you in the moment and cause you not to think. But think about this: you have to protect what it is, your your what you work for. So if you protect what it is you work for by having life insurance in place, health insurance in place, have a retirement strategy built. Someone told me just the other day, a very wise businessman, he said everything needs an exit strategy. So we don't hope to be behind these trucks and we don't hope to be on our jobs or you know, doing this forever. So there does need to be an exit strategy. Um, and so building that now when you don't need it is the best option, and that's the best thing. And so getting in business is lovely. We're chasing the money, we got to get to the money, all of these things, but we also have to protect what it is that we're building, which means creating a plan for the future.

SPEAKER_06

Amen. Amen. I love I love that you said that and Whitney, I I tell you, I started when I was, I want to say 18 years old, right out of high school, started selling life insurance. And thank God I did that because the Lord showed me in that. I always felt, you know, just like people would say, Hey, I'm worth more dead than I am alive. And you talk to somebody and you say, Hey, wait a minute, how much do you make a year? And let's just say they made 100 a year. Well, how much policy do you have? Well, I got 200,000, 250,000. Okay. Well, in two and a half years, your payroll's gone. And where's your wife left? Yeah, so you're actually worth more alive if you were working the next five years than if you were gone for the next two and a half.

SPEAKER_01

I mean, you still have the ability to continue to create income.

SPEAKER_06

Yes. Yes. You you so you have to look for those days and you have to plan for them up front. Man, this is this is fan fantastic, Winnie. I'm loving this. Well, one more before we break for sponsors. Um let me ask you this. You

Options Without Employer Benefits

SPEAKER_06

uh what options are available for people who don't receive benefits through an employer? Can they can they still find quality health insurance and build a retirement strategy without having that through the employer?

SPEAKER_01

Oh, for sure. Absolutely. There um are plans and investment vehicles and all different types of things that are specifically categorized for um entrepreneurs, um, 1099 contractors. There are all sorts of things. There's marketplace. Uh here in Virginia, we have a specialized state marketplace. Um, prior to us having a Virginia state marketplace, we had a federal marketplace, which still is in existence. So there's options for you to be able to get health insurance um even if you do not work for a corporate or a mainstream type of situation. Um, also the retirement strategy. That's just just you sitting down saying, This is what it is that I want my retirement to look like. Because think about it, you you're going to live the retirement that you want to live or that you plan for. I should say that. You're going to live the retirement that you plan for. So if you don't plan for one, maybe you won't get there. We don't know. So build the strategy that you want, the picture that you want to see. There is tons and tons of options, uh, plans, and retirement vehicles, investment vehicles that are geared specifically for um entrepreneurs and small businesses.

SPEAKER_06

Hey, man, that's awesome. That's awesome. So again, you've you you've got to start planning today to look for the future. And sometimes you might have to pass on some of those things today that we normally would go out and get to be able to prepare to have that in the future, to be able to live from it. So that's that that is something else. Well, let's do this. Let's

Sponsor Break

SPEAKER_06

take a quick commercial break for our wonderful sponsors. We'll go to them and listeners, we'll be right back with more informative financial planning strategy from uh from Whitney Williams, who is the financial professional for Cornerstone Advisors Group. So hang in there, we'll be right back.

SPEAKER_00

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Protecting Legacy And A Real Health Scare

SPEAKER_06

Welcome back. You are listening to Toe Professional Podcast. And as you know, every week we do our best to bring great guests and industry information like we have from financial professor professional Whitney Williams with Cornerstone Advisories Group. So remember, make sure you download, listen. We're available on Spotify, iTunes, Pandora, Stitcher, iHeartMedia, Amazon, or wherever you get your podcast. Make sure you download, share with your friends, and keep coming back. You're the ones that made us number one in industry, and we thank you for that. Well, again, like I said, we're with Financial Professional Whitney Williams with Cornerstone Advisors Group. And guys, let me tell you, continue to take notes because this is key. It might not sound like it today, but if we don't start planning today, as we've seen on this calendar, tomorrow's here before we know it. Yesterday it was January 1st. Now we're what? July the 3rd. What happened? And that's how it can happen in our life. One day we're 25 and we're running down to the beach, having a good time. Next thing you know, we're 65. And where is that money for those beach trips? Whitney's telling us how we can ensure we can still have that life if we start looking at it today instead of tomorrow. Well, uh, Whitney, this has been so insightful. So um coming back to this, I wanted to ask you this: how important is it for our business owners to think beyond making money and begin building that long-term wealth and protecting their legacy?

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, it's it's gonna be real important. It's gonna be key and essential. Um, just a quick story. I had a colleague of mine tell me, well, I had been emailing back and forth, and I hadn't gotten a response. And I'm like, what's going on? It's not it's not usual for her. So when I finally get a hold of her, I said, hey, you must have been on the beach somewhere. And she's like, I wish. She said, I had a toothache and I ended up in a coma. A toothache ended her up in a coma. So, I mean, just the I will I will save you the the the story. But needless to say, she went to the bathroom, she passed out. Good thing her husband was there. She doesn't remember anything for four days, wakes up four days later, and it's Wednesday, and she's in the hospital. So this is someone who was rocking and rolling, getting things done, moving and shaking, and just one little thing, which is simple enough as a toothache, landed her in a coma. And, you know, had the cards not, had it not all worked out, had the big guy not stepped in, you know, we would have been seeing a different zone. So she had everything in place, everything and she read me the the bill from the insurance. Um, and luckily her husband works for the county where where she lives, and uh most of it was covered, a very nominal portion that she had to pay. But still, they charge you for the cotton swabs when you go to the ER. I mean, you lay your head on that pillow, that's that that's gonna cost you something. So it's gonna be vital for us to not only prepare health-wise, um, monetarily, to put stuff aside because we never know. Today is today, and we're well, but an accident could happen and it could just shift everything. So we need to start thinking from earning to keeping. We have to to shift our minds into yes, I'm earning, but I need to also make sure that I keep this because it will be a sad day that you know, oh, I'm I'm I'm up on top, my account looks great, and a hospital bill hit you, and they want $40,000. Uh, because why? We didn't plan to have our health insurance in place, our heart attack cancer policies, you know, our accident coverage policies. We didn't have those in place. So one thing can just shift our entire perspective and where we are. Um, we could have a whole nother 2008 situation again, and we're not prepared. So the earlier the better, like that's our theme today, I guess. You know, plan, plan, plan. But um, it's going to be essential to stop to at the same time, not stop, but at the same time, think about today, but also think about tomorrow.

SPEAKER_06

Well, you 100%. And Whitney, like I've I've heard said before, is when something happens, we don't rise to the occasion, we fall to our training, which we fall to what we have in place. Yeah, and if we don't have it in place, we fall so much further. And man, it's it's so key we're having this conversation on tow professional podcasts because we're talking about an industry where this is one of the deadliest jobs out there. It's every six to seven days we're losing an operator, and there's a guy or a woman that has left their home to serve the general public that doesn't come home. And then it's all of a sudden we were possibly some of us week to week. And now what do we do? Um so uh what we're talking about here, everyone, is and Whitney is so good on doing for everyone out there is protecting our interests down the road and making sure that those that we're serving, uh that that's the that should get the biggest service is our family and that we're preparing something for them so that God forbid we've got something to fall back on. And uh hey, like you said, the quicker we can do it, the earlier we can get there, the better we can be in the end. So we got to got to get there early. Um

What A First Financial Meeting Looks Like

SPEAKER_06

all right, let me ask you this for those that are timid out there and they're like, Well, I don't know what this looks like. Are you gonna find all my books and everything I've done? Um, when someone sits down with you for the first time, what does a conversation look like so they can get an idea of it? And what questions are you asking and what can they expect from that process? I know that's a lot, but yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, so it's it's gonna be my duty as um fiduciaries in our firm, it's going to be vital for us to get a full picture. So I'm not gonna ask you what's in your underwear drawer, but I'm gonna get doggone close. We are going to try to figure out where the holes are. So, in order to see the holes, we have to back up and we have to see the picture. So um if you know we're trying to build strategies and plans and get everything in place, um, we're gonna have to to get into what's in the account that you forgot about, what's in and that over there, and you know what what's all involved in your business, how much is this, how much is that, and then also try to get a estimate on what you think it's going to cost you to retire, like what types of things you like to do. If you're a homebody and you know, I just you know hang around, watch movies, go out here and there. That's not a very expensive retirement. But if you want to be on a plane every other week, then we need to build something for you that'll allow you to do that. Because who wants to retire and then go home and be forced to be on the couch if that's not what you want to do? So, again, we're going to build the retirement that you want. Um, we want it to look exactly like you want it. So that that we're going to get into it. We're going to figure out what's in the accounts. But mostly, I know it doesn't seem like it, but I listen. I listen, I listen very well. And people will come to me, and the first part of what we do is just me listening, gathering the information. We we I'm not going to start throwing numbers and figures at you. I'm going to listen. And then I take that back to all the folks that I work with at our firm, and we we get to work. We work for you on building um what it is you want. We we get to work. And and it's nothing to be ashamed of, it's nothing to to um have any condemnation about as it pertains to. I I don't have enough. Or I haven't done well by my we will start at ground zero and we will go from there. No picture is um not right, you know, there's no right or wrong in this situation. It's it's gonna be exactly what it is that we have built out, pretty much. So yep.

SPEAKER_06

I I like what you say about that. And just like we said in the beginning, you know, these are this is one thing that we're not taught in school. We're not given information on how to handle our finances, prepare for for retirement and so on. So uh, you know, a lot of the things you you do, Whitney, I've seen you're able to show us a picture of, hey, this is what you're earning, this is what you're spending. And if we want to see this tight future, now we start preparing right here and we start adjusting. And it helps you you help walk people down those paths so they can understand some of the sacrifices they can make today for big gains tomorrow.

SPEAKER_01

Right. And you know, Dan, I'm I'm thinking as you were talking about the the baby boomer generation, um, and even the generation before that, how finance conversations didn't really happen. Like, you know, from from mom to dad, there was no like, hey, today's the money talk day. No, we did that didn't exist. So now we're having people that the first meeting that I have is usually really hard because people come from that that mindset of I don't have the language to speak about these things because these things were just the money's there or it's not there. We don't have conversations about money. But if we don't talk about it, we don't know what the issues are, we don't know what to fix or what to do. So we got to start getting comfortable, not only just in our business, in our day-to-day, but also with our families. Like talk about where the money is, what what's going on, how much it costs to run a truck, how much does it cost per fuel? What does that leave me with? That's bottom line. Have those conversations with your family so that it becomes easier for you to try to talk that stuff through.

SPEAKER_06

Man, I love that. Sounds like you're talking about leadership at home, too, right, wouldn't it?

SPEAKER_01

Leadership at home, yes. I love that.

SPEAKER_06

That's the key. We gotta have the the same leadership that makes us successful in business. We also have to use that to navigate home and to be able to have those tough conversations on how do we get from here to there, and uh, and how important it is to uh to reach out to experts like Whitney that can to help us along the way and that has the skill set for those things, for those uh journeys that we're on in life. So, with that, man, this is some fantastic information. Whitney, I'm loving this. Uh, let's

Sponsor Break

SPEAKER_06

do this. Let's take one more commercial break for our sponsors. We'll come back and hit the the back half of this segment. But listeners, stay there. More great information coming from Whitney Williams, financial professional for Cornerstone Advisory Group. We'll be right back, so hang in there.

SPEAKER_03

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SPEAKER_06

Well, welcome, one and all. You are there, we are here. This is Toad Professional Podcast, and remember, this is your podcast. And again, today we have Whitney Williams, a financial professional with Cornerstone Advisory Group. And uh, men and women, let me tell you, this is something not only I needed, I'm glad she came on, but I'm sure I'm not the only one standing in the field here saying I don't know everything about finance. So uh any any nuggets of wisdom I can get, I'm always glad to tuck them in my pocket and hang on to them because I can certainly use them. So, Whitney, again, we thank you so much for being on this podcast and being open about all of what you're able to do and help folks with.

Three Steps Homework For Business Owners

SPEAKER_06

So um coming back, I do want to ask you for for someone listening today, let's say they're they're self-employed, owns a small business, or operates as an independent contractor, um, what are three things that they should start doing today to improve their financial future for retirement?

SPEAKER_01

Um, okay. So the first thing is gonna be, and this is your homework. Everybody's got to do these three things. This is homework. Yes, organize your money. If this isn't something that you've already done or are currently doing, organize your money. And what I mean by that is let's get a clear picture of what is where and where is what. You understand what I'm saying? Like, let's break it down. If you only have one checking account for your business and for your personal, that has to change. You have to set up a bank account that is strictly for expenses that go from the business and deposits for when you make money. That's going to allow for not a not only a uh seamless tax season, but just a give you a better overall picture of how much am I making? Uh, and sometimes when we when we get in that truck, when we get behind the wheel or when we get into that business, you know, oh, it's there, let me swipe, let me get this, let me do that. But how much am I making? What is my bottom line? Am I in black or am I in the red? So organize your money, use platforms like QuickBooks, and there's some other different um platforms out there that'll help you invoice, do PL statements, do um your all sorts of things, like keep it all in line. Um, it also like invoice people who are late behind on invoices. It does it's it costs very nominal um a month, if if anything, so you can really have it all organized, and then when the tax season does come, everything is like a click of a button, like it, but it has to be it has to be in order, it has to be in order in order for it to make sense. The second thing would be to invest in yourself. Um, I know that it is really fun to go buy new trucks or to buy new chains or to buy whatever it is that's going to improve your business and make more money, but we we want to do that same level investing in ourselves. It doesn't have to be to that degree or to that amount, but you want to start saying that, like you said in the beginning, 60-year-old Darren is going to thank you today that you decided to invest in yourself and put away so that we can work less. That's the goal, right? The goal is to work less. Yes, so we want to get ourselves there so we can do all the things, hang with the grandkids, go on trips, um, travel the country, whatever you want to do. Number three would be to talk to a professional, get connected with someone who does this for a living, someone who has been licensed and is acknowledged by the state to have these conversations with you. As lovely as it is that our brother-in-law has had investments and he's doing all of these things. He's not the person, maybe, you know, to talk to to help build this. Maybe he's too close to the family. So talk to someone um who is a professional to help you again build that picture, back off of it a little bit so we can see the full scope, uh, and patch in whatever holes that they exist. So those are your three things that's your homework to get started today. Very easy. It you don't need a whole bunch to start doing that, but um that'll that would be my my advice on what you could do today.

SPEAKER_06

I I love it. Thank you, Whitney. That's perfect. Organize your money, invest in yourself, and chat with a professional. Man, that's a that's that's a great start, and you're right. And just organizing your money is big because that helps the CPA. That helps, and I've been there. What you said, you know, you're out, and I'm gonna throw some gas in the car. All I got's the company card, I'll put it in the company card, and well, we're you know, and then when that stuff starts compounding and you get to the end of the year and have to go back and explain 12 months of what happened there and here, it it makes it very tough, and that cost us more money and time to go back and explain it.

SPEAKER_01

I I do I don't do the books for my husband's business. Um, I don't, but I do go in and I peek every once in a while, and I'll just look at Seth. And the other day, um he's hanging out on the couch, and I'm like, hey honey, did was this Wendy's uh charge for uh a business lunch? And he said, Um, yeah, yeah, it was. It was a I entertained clients. I said, you entertain clients at Wendy's for $18. That's great.

SPEAKER_06

I've had uh I've had a couple of those times where we've entertained at Starbucks. Uh that's a place I like to entertain uh clients and uh note taking.

SPEAKER_01

Note taking. Listen, you gotta figure out what what is what when you when it there's always a way to make it work, but we don't want to continue those things, you know. We want to make it as organized as possible.

SPEAKER_06

Amen. Got

Core Takeaways Health Retirement Taxes

SPEAKER_06

it, got it. All right, Whitney, for our last question, let me ask you this. If our listeners could take away just one message from today's conversation, what would you want them to remember about health insurance, retirement planning, and creating financial security for themselves and their families?

SPEAKER_01

If we could sum up everything, if if if the the takeaways I want everyone to actually drive home is health insurance is necessary. Like health insurance is necessary. We cannot psych ourselves into thinking I'm healthy, my mom was healthy, my dad lived until he was 100. I mean, we have these different scenarios where we can try to figure out, you know, I'm not on any medicine. Those things are great, those are things that are lovely, and I hope nothing ever happens to you medically. But I've seen too many times where people have tripped over the cat, and now, you know, they're in the hospital, and that leads to to weeks, and now we're talking on top of a hospital bill, we're talking loss of income, um, and then re recovery and all of these things. So just have it in place. If it's something basic or or whatnot, it doesn't matter. Just have something that doesn't have you going bankrupt in hospital bills or or doctor bills. So health insurance is necessary. Uh, number two takeaway would probably be retirement is possible. Let's take the the idea in our mind that retirement is not something I could do and take it and put it in trash because retirement is possible. So we just have to start as soon as we can, um, and we just have to build a strategy around what we have right now. What tools and what advantages can we take? What things can we take advantage of that'll help us have that retirement that we want? Uh, thirdly, there are tax advantages to being uh a 1099 contractor, having an LLC. There's things, you know, there are a lot of wealthy people in this world who are wealthy, not just because they bring in money, but because they know how the tax advantages that are out there. They know what to do and how to do as it pertains to tax advantages. So let's figure out that. Let's get educated on tax advantages and what does that mean for me? It's not just set up high for the wealthy people. I want a little bit of that too. So that's another thing we're gonna take away from this. Um, and also talk to a professional because time is of the essence. Let's leverage our youth, let's leverage our youth. And you say, Oh, Whitney, I'm already 65, or I'm already 60. You're younger than what you will be tomorrow, you're younger than what you will be next year. So let's leverage your youth today. That's that's what I have takeaways.

SPEAKER_06

I love that. And yeah, and the worst thing you can do at 60 years of age, not planning for your retirement, is live to 99 without planning. You know what I mean? So it's it's it's never too late. And if we plan today, we can live better tomorrow. And uh, let me tell you, Whitney, this is something I think we all need it. Um, it's one of those taboo subjects, nobody wants to talk about finances. It's scary and it can create anxiety and so on. But I I think with what you're saying is if we approach it sooner than later, we take some of that fear out of the equation, we take some of that anxiety out of the equation, and we start building a plan for the future so it gives us something for us and our family to set our sights on and to grow towards and to be comfortable in that time when we get there. So we're preparing a place for ourselves to go uh and be treated well from the work we're doing today.

SPEAKER_01

Yes.

How To Reach Whitney And Upcoming Seminar

SPEAKER_06

I love that. Well, listen, uh, folks, uh also another thing I wanted to say is you know, listeners, if y'all want to take a look at this, make sure you go to uh cornerstoneadvisors.com. Um, also make sure you give Whitney a call. Give her a shout. It's 804-939-2983, and you can reach out to her directly and she'll help you along with this. Again, that's 804-939-2983. And you can start today planning for tomorrow. But the best time to do it is right now. And with saying that, Whitney, I think you you've got something coming up in August for everybody, right? Will you tell us about that?

SPEAKER_01

Okay, so um, dates are tentative, but we're gonna do a virtual and an in-person um seminar, and it's gonna be titled Shifting into Security. Okay, so this these two seminars are going to be strategically geared toward 1099 contractors, um, business owners, and people in the transportation field. So that's box trucks, um, dump trucks, tow trucks, whatever it is, whatever lane you're in. Um, and I mean that, no pun intended, whatever lane you're in, um, it's going to be the event for you. So, of course, the local one, the in-person one, will be in the Richmond, Virginia area. Um, and it will be near one of um our big truck stops that we have here to be able to reach that audience. Um, but then the virtual one is open for everyone. So um, we'll get those dates out, those links out, and how you can um register for that event. It's going to talk about what we just talked about today, but just in a deeper, deeper way. We're gonna get some specific questions answered. Um, you'll be able to write it in the chat um or raise your hand if you're in person, and you know, we'll give you like a 50,000-foot view of your answer of your question without exposing you your stuff all over um the call or in person. But we're just gonna give you a 50-foot view, 50,000-foot view of of what it is that you could do today to go ahead and start planning for that future.

SPEAKER_06

I love it. I love it. Well, Wendy, thank you so much. And again, for everybody, just like I said, Cornerstone Advisors at C-O-R-N-E-R-S-T-O-N-E, advisors, A-D-V-I-S-O-R-S dot com, or you can reach her directly at 804-939-2983. And again, don't wait till tomorrow to plan. Uh, start today and start planning for tomorrow. That's the way we don't get there and get hit with surprises.

Prayer And Closing Thoughts

SPEAKER_06

Um, and as always, uh Whitney, I what I want to do to end this podcast is I want to close in prayer, if you don't mind.

SPEAKER_01

No problem. Let's go.

SPEAKER_06

All right, dear Heavenly Father, we just uh we thank you for the opportunity uh for all of these companies to be able to come on. We thank you for their heart and their service in this industry. We ask that you bless them with knowledge, wisdom, and the ability to reach uh everyone that's out there in the market that has needs and bless them for what they're doing, help make them prosperous. Also, Father, we thank you for every one of our towers, for our men and women, their servants' heart, their ability, they are out there on a daily basis, no matter if it's a holiday, if it's a regular day. They're out there serving. And Father, we just thank them for that. We want them to uh to feel how valuable they are. We ask that you help make them prosperous. And Father, that you bring those men and women home to their families, keep them safe, and protect them for the heart of service they have. We ask all of this in your precious name, Jesus. Amen.

SPEAKER_01

Amen. Thank you.

SPEAKER_06

And as always, hey, Whitney, we thank you so much for being on here and just sharing the breadth and depth of knowledge that you have in the financial industry. And let me tell you, for all our listeners, guys, I've met Whitney before. I've met her husband at the show. They are phenomenal people, and they have a heart of service and a passion for helping make sure that your family does better tomorrow. And they want to assist you in that today. And I can tell you, if you ever get a chance to talk with her, give yourself the ability to do that because it'll bless you. And you'll see her heart is for your family, and she feels in her heart if she can help you with her dream with your dreams, she and her husband can reach theirs. And that's what they're trying to do is help you get there. And they know if they can do that, they don't have to worry about themselves. And that's why they serve with their hearts. So, Whitney, thanks so much for for being here. Everyone, reach out to cornerstoneadvisors.com. Start planning your future today. Reach out to Whitney 804-939-2983, and she'll be glad to help you with your planning. And as always, Whitney, we thank you and God bless you for coming on and helping share your wisdom and your knowledge and finances with us.

SPEAKER_01

Awesome, Dan. Thank you. I appreciate it.

SPEAKER_06

You are certainly welcome. And listeners, keep listening. As always, Top Professional Magazine will have more featured input. There's a publication that just hit where you can read more information about Cornerstone Advisors and what they can offer you and your family. It's out there now. Take a look, read up, and reach out. Thanks again. God bless you.