Good Neighbor Podcast: TN-WNC-SWVA

EP#348: A Fee-Only Path to Financial Confidence with Skee Orr of Kinetic Wealth

• Skip Mauney & Skee Orr • Episode 348

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A declined debit card, a wise grandmother, and a promise to put clients first—this conversation with Kinetic Wealth founder Skee Orr gets personal and practical about what real financial planning looks like. We trace Ski’s path from a small Western North Carolina town to launching a fee-only firm in Knoxville with his wife, and we dig into why transparency and fiduciary duty change the entire client experience. No sales scripts, no scare tactics—just clear steps toward independence, stewardship, and better decisions.

We unpack the myths that keep people on the sidelines—confusing jargon, product noise, and the fear of “not knowing enough”—and replace them with approachable habits: cash flow awareness, smart debt payoff, right-sized emergency funds, and risk-managed investing you can explain to a friend. Skee outlines the three groups he serves best: independence seekers focused on flexibility and early options, family stewards focused on legacy and tax-savvy giving, and small businesses that put employees first with meaningful benefits and education. Along the way, we discuss how cadence and accountability matter as much as strategy, because systems—not willpower—drive long-term results.

The heart of the episode is a candid money memory: standing at a pump at 17 with a declined card and calling his grandmother. Her grace turned embarrassment into a lifelong lesson on planning, humility, and resilience. That story informs Skee’s approach today: meet people where they are, explain the “why,” and keep advice aligned with the client’s best interest. If you’re curious about choosing an advisor, we share a quick checklist—fee-only, written fiduciary standard, clear pricing, and explanations you can repeat with confidence.

If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review so more neighbors can find practical, human financial guidance.

SPEAKER_00:

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Kit Marty.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, hello everyone, and welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast. I hope everybody's doing well. I'm super excited today to have uh uh a guest with us who's uh for the first time in the studio with us, so we're excited about that and excited to learn all about him and his business. And I'm sure you will be as well because today I have the pleasure of introducing your good neighbor, Mr. Ski Orr, who is the owner operator of Kinetic Wealth. Ski, welcome to the show.

SPEAKER_01:

Thank you very much. Excited to be here.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, we're thrilled to have you. Like I said, very excited. We like to focus on uh locally owned small businesses and nonprofits, so we're excited to learn all about what you do. So if you don't mind, kick us off by telling us about your business.

SPEAKER_01:

Cool. Yeah, so uh kinetic wealth is is my business. Uh my wife and I just started this firm uh this year. We launched June the 3rd. Um we are a fee-only uh financial planning firm uh here located in Knoxville, Tennessee. We serve clients primarily in East Tennessee, but also uh I am originally from Western North Carolina, so serve some clients there as well. Um and uh like I said, we're very excited to be on the show today.

SPEAKER_02:

Very good, very good. So uh what part of Western North Carolina are you from?

SPEAKER_01:

I am from a very small town uh called Andrews, which is Cherokee County, uh just as far west as you can go, pretty much. Um I moved from that area to Knoxville about 10 years ago uh to to uh pursue my my financial planning career. Um started out working uh at a credit union, state employees credit union in North Carolina, very grateful for my time there. Um and when I I departed from that position, I I moved to Knoxville and and now we call this home.

SPEAKER_02:

Very good. Well, I asked because I'm in East Tennessee as well, but I'm originally from Western North Carolina, from Shelby, which is Cleveland County, a little further towards Charlotte, but up in the foothills. So we're in good company here. So um, and you talked about how you got into the business. Um, what are some myths or misconceptions uh in in uh your industry that you can think of?

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, so you know, financial planning, and sometimes people say wealth management or financial advice. Uh I think that a lot of people maybe are intimidated uh by that because it's complicated. I don't understand it, there's a lot of jargon and maybe some scare tactics out there. Um, so I think a lot of people find it maybe unapproachable. Um and so I think one of the the big focuses uh of us and our firm is to make it uh comfortable and approachable, um, no matter where you are in life. Some people have have done great with their money, or maybe they got lucky with their money, or maybe they're just getting started and don't don't know where to start. Uh we uh feel that it's a blessing that we can help people no matter where they're at. Uh so I would say the misconception is that uh it's it's difficult to get started or maybe too complicated. Uh I would disagree with that. Um I would say that financial planning really is for everybody, and you've got to start somewhere. Uh and so um we we we feel very fortunate that we can help people in that way.

SPEAKER_02:

Very good. Now you said it's for everybody. I was gonna ask who your target customers were, and uh, I guess everybody.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes. Um so we have kind of defined the people that we serve best uh to be individuals and families who um strongly value independence, and that doesn't necessarily uh mean wealthy, but they they are they are seeking independence. Maybe they want to pay their debts off, or maybe they want to be able to stop working in the next few years, so so they are seeking independence. Uh another group of of individuals and families we serve are family stewards. So maybe they are financially independent and they want to maximize the legacy that they leave for others. Uh, and then the third group of people that we serve are uh small businesses and organizations, um, but those that are very employee-centric, meaning that they care deeply about their their team and and providing benefits for for those people that are industry leading.

SPEAKER_02:

Very good. Now you sound like uh just started. Congratulations, by the way, on starting in June.

SPEAKER_01:

Thank you.

SPEAKER_02:

At launching. Um, I'm sure you work a lot, but if there is time outside of work, what do you like to do for fun?

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, so my wife and I live in a golf course community, and we have lots of great friends there. We we play golf and love to watch golf. Uh, we spend a lot of time with family and friends, um, and also we are very heavily involved in our community. So between those things um and you know, uh attending church and being involved in in school uh school events for children, um we you can imagine we don't have much time to spare.

SPEAKER_02:

Uh it sounds like it. So um let's switch gears for just a second. Um, Ski, is there a uh can you describe a hardship or a life challenge, whether professional or or personal, that you've gone through where you overcame it and came out stronger on the other side? Anything come to mind?

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, so as it relates to financial planning, um I grew up with a mom, a grandmother, a great-grandmother who were all teachers. Um, so you know, I I would say that that that part of of what I do is very important to me. But a a story from that question that that stands out is I was probably 17. Um I was working in a kitchen in a hospital at the time, and uh I left work and I went to go put gas in my car, and I put my debit card in the uh in the machine to to buy some gas, and it declined my card. And I've I've always generally been pretty good with money, but at that time, maybe I had written a check and forgot to write it down or something, and and I didn't have the$20 to to put gas in my car. Now, luckily, uh I called my grandmother, who's who was always very good with money, and uh she drove over and and paid for my gas. And uh it was it was very shameful to me at in the moment. Like I was ashamed to admit to my grandmother my my car didn't work and I I didn't have enough money to buy gas. But how she how she approached that with with grace and understanding and and a lesson of how we can make sure that that doesn't happen again, that's a hardship that ended up being a lifelong lesson. That I've never been in that situation again, uh having a monetary uh problem like that. So I think a lot of people uh are in situations like that, maybe not necessarily financially, but a difficult time in your life that we get to choose if we stay mired in in that hardship or if we rise above it and learn and and develop from it. So uh that was an early money uh story and and lesson from my grandmother that that certainly sticks out.

SPEAKER_02:

Awesome. The the best lessons come from from your grandmother.

SPEAKER_01:

Absolutely, absolutely person.

SPEAKER_02:

Yes, well, the great, great story. So if um if Ski, if you could think of one thing that you would like our listeners to remember about you and about kinetic wealth, what would that be?

SPEAKER_01:

Well, I would say that we are a fee-only firm, uh, meaning that we have the highest level of fiduciary duty to our clients. And basically that's again a jargony type word. That just means that we are required by law to act in the best interest of our clients. And so something that I would appreciate people to take away is it's it's okay to ask for help. And some things in life we need help, and it's okay to ask for help. But the people you ask for help from, be very conscientious of what their motives are. Um, are they there to help you? Are they there to to sell you something maybe that that's not necessarily in your best interest? I'm not the only fiduciary advisor out there. There are lots of good financial advisors. So if you if you do need help and don't want to do it on your own, uh find someone who's qualified and and a fiduciary who can help you.

SPEAKER_02:

Very good. Good thing to remember. So if um any of our listeners or viewers um need some help financially as far as financial planning, uh long-term, short-term, whatever, but they're intrigued and would like to learn more, how can they do that?

SPEAKER_01:

Well, so it's funny you ask that because you hear a lot about SEO search engine optimization, and and I'm I'm kind of ahead of the curve because my name is Ski Ore. There aren't any other ski or something. So if you type Ski Ore into Google, you will find me. But our our website is kineticwealthplanning.com. Um, but if you type in kinetic wealth Knoxville or Ski Ore, uh all of those will will lead you to us. We have Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, um, all of that as well. So so we kind of try to meet people where they are, text, call, email, whatever someone prefers.

SPEAKER_02:

Very good. Well, Ski, and that is a very unique name, by the way. Um, uh we really appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to hang out with us and tell us all about your your new business and what you guys do. And uh wish you, your wife, uh, and uh uh your clients all the best moving forward.

SPEAKER_01:

Thank you very much. Appreciate that.

SPEAKER_02:

Absolutely, and uh maybe one day we could have you back on the show.

SPEAKER_01:

If that sounds good, reach out anytime.

SPEAKER_02:

All right. Thanks so much, Ski. You have a great rest of the day.

SPEAKER_00:

You too. Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show. Go to GMP Try Dash Cities.com. That's GNP Tri Dash Cities.com. Or call four two three seven one nine for five eight seven three.