The Compound Commitment

Episode 059: What is your family trying to strengthen in the next generation?

Most successful organizations have a clear vision, but few families take the time to define where they’re going together. In this episode, Rhiannon and I share how we created our family vision statement: to strengthen endless generations of Nilsons in their love of family, health, and meaningful work.

We discuss why the idea initially felt a little corporate and cheesy, how our stories helped reveal the values that mattered most, and why changing one word—from supporting our children to stre...

Episode 058: 

Episode 057:  How do you decide what your family wants to strengthen—and choose practical ways to live it out?

In this episode, Rhiannon and I share how we created our own Legacy Loop around three principles: family, health, and meaningful work. We explain why every family should use language that connects with its own experiences, values, and vision rather than simply copying ours.

We also explore the difference between principles, strategies, and techniques. Principles define what matters. Strategies provide a consistent path for strengthening it. Techniques can change as our lives, resources, and fam...

Episode 056: What are we really passing down to the next generation? 

In this episode, Rhiannon and I explore a definition of legacy that goes far beyond money or inheritance. To me, legacy is generational strength—what we strengthen today so the people, families, businesses, and communities we care about can continue growing long after we’re gone. 

We also introduce the Three Levels of Legacy. It begins with Connection: strengthening the relationships that hold people together. From there, we build Capacity by helping each person grow stronger in mind, body, and spirit. Finally, that s...

Episode 55: How much financial help should you give your kids? 

In this episode, Rhiannon and I introduce the Resistance Triangle—a practical framework for making thoughtful parenting and money decisions. Using back-to-school shopping as a real-life example, we explore three questions: What is the purpose? How ready is the child? And what is the appropriate amount? 

We discuss why treating children fairly doesn’t always mean treating them equally, how gratitude and maturity should influence financial support, and why the right answer may change as each child grows. The goal isn’t to find one...

Episode 054: In this episode, Rhiannon and I explore two timeless principles that shaped my career as a strength coach and continue to influence how we raise our kids: resistance and growth.

In the weight room, too little resistance makes an athlete weaker, while too much can overwhelm or injure them. Parenting works much the same way. Our challenge is to meet each child where they are, provide the right amount of resistance, and allow them to work through difficult experiences without taking over.

We share some honest examples of times we may have...

Episode 053: How do we make good decisions when there are endless options and no obvious right answer?

In this episode, Rhiannon and I unpack the PST process—principles, strategies, and techniques—the most powerful and useful decision-making framework I’ve ever applied to my life. I first learned it through my strength & conditioning mentor, Gary Gray, and it helped me stop chasing the newest exercises and start anchoring my decisions to the principles behind them.

We explain how principles give us a foundation, strategies provide direction, and techniques give us the flexibility to respon...

Episode 052: What if the greatest gift we can give our kids isn’t an easier life, but the right amount of resistance to help them grow?

In this episode, Rhiannon and I explore the inheritance trap—the danger of allowing money to remove the challenges that build confidence, work ethic, gratitude, and purpose. We reflect on the seasons when we had less, why working toward something can be more meaningful than finally getting it, and how difficult it is as parents to watch our kids struggle when we have the ability to help.

We a...

Episode 051: In this episode, Rhiannon and I look back at the dreams we wrote down when we had very little money—and the fun we had watching many of them come true. 

We talk about our 101-goal lists, traveling to places we had never been, my early Save/Invest/Give coffee cans, and eventually building the dream house we had pictured for years.

But achieving that dream left us with an unexpected question: Now what are we saving for?

We explore why money should never become the goal, how dreaming can cre...

Episode 050: How do we give our kids a great life without taking away the struggle, desire, and gratitude that helped shape us?

In this episode, Rhiannon and I look back at some of the decisions we wrestled with while raising our kids—from battery-powered cars and expensive shoes to chores, allowances, and family experiences. We share the choices we made, the ones we still question, and the tension between giving our kids opportunities and giving them everything they want.

These stories helped us recognize why our family needed the Legacy Loop. Most financial de...

Episode 049: What happens when money quietly shifts from being a tool to becoming the goal?

In this episode, Rhiannon and I look back at a season when our lives became focused on building—buying our first fourplex, adding rental properties around Gonzaga, starting businesses, working multiple jobs, and trying to create financial security for our future family. What started as an exciting challenge eventually taught me an important lesson: if you don't know what money is for, it's hard to know when you have enough.

We share the fun, the resistance, the risks, an...

Episode 048: What if the most important career decision you make has nothing to do with money? 

In this episode, Rhiannon and I continue our journey from college into the early years of marriage—when we were chasing purpose long before we were chasing wealth. 

We look back on everything from my surprise marriage proposal at Gonzaga, to the uncertainty of tearing my Achilles before graduation, to moving across the world so I could pursue my dream of playing professional basketball in Germany. Those years were filled with unknowns, setbacks, and plenty of moments wher...

Episode 047: Some of our favorite memories came during the years when we had the least amount of money.

In this episode, Rhiannon and I look back on our college years, sharing the stories that shaped the way we think about money, parenting, and legacy today. We laugh about stretching every dollar, hunting for the best deals, living on cheap meals, and discovering that creativity and friendship often flourished because we didn't have much.

We also revisit some of our biggest financial mistakes. Rhiannon shares the story of opening her first credit card and...

Episode 046:  When I first got married, I thought the best partner would be someone who agreed with me, made life easier, and saw the world the same way I did.

Twenty-five years later, I've learned the opposite is true.

In this episode, Rhiannon and I share how our differences have become one of the greatest strengths in our marriage, our family, and even the book we're writing together, What Is Money For?

I'm an internal processor who loves building systems and organizing ideas. Rhiannon is an external processor who asks tough q...

Episode 045: For years, I've been fascinated by one question: What is money for?

Most of us spend decades working hard, saving, investing, and sacrificing for the future. But very few of us ever stop to ask what we're actually trying to accomplish once we've built wealth.

That question changed the way my wife Rhiannon and I think about money, parenting, and legacy. It led us to create what we now call the Legacy Loop—a framework that's helping us use money to strengthen our relationships, create more purpose, and prepare future generations instead of...

Episode 044: We've talked about the legal documents.  We've talked about values, legacy, and trusts.  Now comes the hardest—and arguably the most important—part of the process:

Talking about it.

In the final episode of this three-part series, estate planning attorney Iran Harvell shares how families can have meaningful conversations about money, legacy, and the future before a crisis forces them to.

Because the best estate plans don't begin with legal documents. They begin around the dinner table.

Iran walks through why family meetings matter, when to have t...

Episode 043: In Part One of this series, Iran Harvell reminded us that estate planning isn't really about documents—it's about people.

Today, we take the next step.

Before we talk about trusts, revocable versus irrevocable, or any of the legal strategies families use to protect their wealth, we start with a much more important question:

What is your money for?

One of the greatest gifts my parents gave my siblings and me wasn't financial. It was clarity. Together, we created a family legacy document that defined our va...

Episode 042: Estate planning is one of those topics that many people know they should address, yet far too many families put it off until it's too late.

In Part One of my three-part conversation with estate attorney Iran Harvell, we focus on the foundational estate planning documents that every adult should understand and have in place.

Iran serves as the Executive Director of Estate & Financial Planning at Hightower Advisors and has spent her career helping families navigate some of life's most important legal, financial, and legacy decisions. What I appreciate most about Iran...

Episode 041: Many investors ask the same question: Is there a way to participate in the stock market's growth without taking on all of the downside risk?

In this episode, I sit down with Matt Kaufman, Senior Vice President and Head of ETFs at Calamos Investments, to explore one of the fastest-growing areas of investing: buffered ETFs.

Matt has spent more than two decades in the financial industry and has helped design and build hundreds of investment products. He does a fantastic job breaking down a topic that can sound complex and making it...

Episode 040: Success isn't always measured by points scored, shots made, or individual accolades. Some of the most valuable players are the ones who do the little things that help teams win.

In this episode, I sit down with Gonzaga guard Jalen Warley to discuss the mindset, habits, and work ethic that have helped him become one of the most versatile players in college basketball.

What I've always admired about Jalen is his willingness to do whatever the team needs. Whether it's defending multiple positions, crashing the boards, creating opportunities for teammates, or sacrificing...

Episode 039:  In Part 3 of The Athlete’s Guide to Investing, I shift the conversation from building wealth to protecting it.

Because making money is only part of the equation.
 Learning how to keep it, manage risk, and build resilient systems matters just as much.

In this episode, I break down some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned studying Ray Dalio and diversification, including:

 • The importance of uncorrelated assets
 • Why diversification is really about protection and flexibility
 • How to think about risk and volatility
 • The difference between liquidity, income...

Episode 038: In Episode 2 of The Athlete’s Guide to Investing, I talk about one of the biggest mindset shifts that changed the way I think about investing:

Stop thinking like a gambler.
 Start thinking like an owner.

After studying Warren Buffett for years, I realized that investing is not about chasing stock tips or trying to predict the next hot company. It’s about understanding businesses, ownership, and long-term value.

In this episode, I break down:

 • Why price and value are not the same thing
 • How Warren Buffett eva...

Episode 037: In Episode 1 of The Athlete’s Guide to Investing, I introduce a simple idea that changed the way I think about money:

Many of the same habits that help athletes succeed in sports — discipline, consistency, patience, and repetition — can also apply to building long-term wealth.

In this episode, I break down:

 • The power of compounding
 • Why starting early matters
 • The importance of paying yourself first
 • The 3 Buckets System for managing money
 • How lifestyle creep can quietly destroy wealth
 • Why automation and consistency matter more than perfection

My goal...

Episode 036: In this episode, I sit down with Ben Klundt, a Certified Financial Planner and certified exit planning advisor at TEN Capital, to talk about something that doesn’t get enough attention until it’s too late—liquidity events. Whether it’s selling a business, offloading real estate, or stepping into retirement, Ben walks through what a liquidity event really is and why planning ahead can make all the difference.

We spend time unpacking why the most successful exits often start three to five years before the actual transaction. Ben shares what he’s seen from busin...

Episode 035: In this episode, I sit down with Spencer Ansett, Executive Search Consultant at the Mullings Group, a nationwide MedTech search firm. Spencer has placed over 450 professionals across sales, marketing, finance, market access, and regulatory affairs—and has a front-row seat to what it really takes to make a successful career move.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, unfulfilled, or simply curious about what’s next, this conversation will give you a practical and refreshing perspective on career change. Spencer shares what he’s learned from helping hundreds of professionals navigate transitions, including how to position...

Episode 34: What if your portfolio could generate income in any market?

In this episode, I sit down with Matt Mierzejewski of Goldman Sachs to break down one of the most talked‑about options strategies: covered calls. We start by talking about Matt path from being a college golfer to working in finance, and how that competitive mindset helped shape his approach to the markets.

We then get into the basics of how options actually work, why covered calls can be a useful tool in certain market environments, and some of the most common mi...

Episode 033: In this episode, I sit down with Ryan Sawyer, a mental strength coach who shares his powerful journey from battling depression to helping others build resilience, clarity, and confidence under pressure. Ryan opens up about how his own struggles shaped his identity—and how that same work can help athletes, families, and organizations grow with intention.

Ryan is a former national champion college football coach who went on to coach at Central Washington University and Eastern Washington University before founding the Heart First Mental Strength Academy. Today, he works with athletes, leaders, and high pe...

Episode 032: In this episode, I sit down with behavioral finance author Brian Portnoy to explore what wealth really means beyond numbers on a balance sheet. We talk about the idea of funded contentment and how aligning your money with purpose, priorities, and decisions can lead to a more meaningful life. Brian also breaks down his “geometry of wealth” framework and the four C’s of contentment—connection, control, competence, and context.

We dive into the psychology of money, including how childhood experiences shape our financial beliefs and why we’re wired to constantly want more, even when...

Episode 031: In this episode, I sit down with dietitian Julia Chase to unpack what nutrition really looks like for kids—and why it’s so different from the way adults eat. We talk about her path from competitive dancer to sport nutrition, and how that journey shaped the way she thinks about healthy eating, weight management, and the messy, emotional side of food.  

Julia and I explore how children build their relationship with food from such a young age, why carbs matter more than people think, and how to support kids who need to gain or lo...

Episode 030: In this episode, I sit down with Ryan Issakainen from First Trust to break down how investment vehicles have evolved—and what that means for all of us trying to build smarter portfolios. Ryan and I talk through mutual funds, index funds, and ETFs, why they were created, and the unique advantages and challenges of each one.

We get into the ongoing debate of active versus passive management, the importance of true diversification, and why understanding what you own matters more now than ever. Ryan also explains the rapid growth of ETFs, how they wo...

Episode 029: Athletes today have opportunities to earn money that didn’t exist just a few years ago.

From revenue sharing… to collectives… to individual brand deals—NIL (Name, Image & Likeness) has completely changed the game.

But with new opportunity comes new complexity.

In this episode, I sit down with Theresa Gralinski to break down how NIL actually works, where the money is coming from, and what athletes and families need to understand to make the most of it.

We talk about:

Episode 028: In this special episode, I get the honor of interviewing my favorite person in the world—my wife, Rhiannon.

If you know Rhiannon, you already know this conversation is going to be fun, real, and full of great stories. We talk about our journey as a family and how we began thinking more intentionally about what we want our wealth to support.

Together, we share the three core values we want our money to serve and the early steps we’ve taken to build a family legacy system around those values.

It...

Episode 027: In part 2 of the trilogy, I share how to intentionally build a Family Legacy System that helps your wealth strengthen your family instead of slowing dividing it.  Drawing from my own family experiences, I walk you through the simple frameworks that can help families align their money with what matters most: Meaningful relationships, meaningful work, and meaningful giving.
 
You’ll learn why money without structure often creates confusion, conflict or entitlement – and how a clear system can turn wealth into a tool that builds connection, opportunity, and purpose across generations. 

If you want yo...

Episode 026: This solo episode digs into the foundational question most people skip past: the true purpose of money.

Reflecting on my own journey— I learned to earn, save, invest, and protect money, yet spent years without clarity on its actual role in my life. That missing piece created a gap: without knowing what money is for, it’s impossible to know how much is enough.

My hope is that you’ll work towards building your own personal blueprint for money—one rooted in values, intentionality, and the life you want to create. When you defi...

Episode 025: In this week’s conversation, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Tommy Flick and I dive into the connection between the body and mind and why understanding both is so important for personal growth. We get into how the subconscious shapes what we believe, how we act, and even how we see ourselves—most of the time without realizing it.

Tommy breaks down how tools like hypnotherapy can help us rewrite old patterns and create real change. We also talk about anxiety, why self-reflection matters, and the Trivium—knowledge, understanding, and wisdom—and how those three pieces c...

Episode 024: In this episode, I interview Jeff Walters from Hines Private Wealth Solutions on 1031 and 721 exchanges. If you’ve ever wondered how to keep more of what you’ve earned while leveling up your real estate strategy, this conversation breaks it all down in a simple, practical way.

We talk through how 1031 exchanges can help you defer taxes when moving from one property to another, and why some investors choose to “retire from being a landlord” by using a 721 exchange to roll into a REIT. We also get into the real differences between private real estate d...

Episode 023: In this episode, I sit down with Alan Stein Jr. to dig into the heart of his Next Play philosophy—a mindset built around resilience, presence, and the ability to move forward with purpose after any setback. Alan and I talk about how this idea was born on the basketball court, where he spent years as a high‑performance coach working with elite athletes, and how he’s since carried those same principles into the business world.

We explore what “Next Play” really means on both a micro and macro level. On the micro side, it’s...

Episode 022: Dave Sonntag is the Chief Philanthropy Officer for the Innovia Foundation. In this role, Dave develops charitable solutions for people, families, and organizations that align their values with making an impact in their community. 

In this episode, I sit down with Dave to talk about the true power of generosity—and why it’s about far more than money. Dave shares how generosity can be life‑changing not just for the people on the receiving end, but for those who choose to live with a mindset of giving.

We explore why so many pe...

Episode 021: In this episode, I sit down with Gary Gray for a wide‑ranging conversation on movement, mindset, and what it really means to live well in three dimensions. Gary has spent decades teaching that movement isn’t just something we do—it’s how we learn, grow, and navigate life. And if we don’t understand movement in all three planes, we’re missing the full picture.

We talk about the PST process (Principle–Strategy–Technique) and why understanding the why behind our actions matters just as much off the gym floor as it does on it. That...

Episode 020: Phil Town is an investor, teacher, and bestselling author of Rule #1, known for making long‑term investing more understandable and more approachable. Before becoming a professional investor, Phil lived an unconventional life that included river guiding in the Grand Canyon—an experience that shaped his perspective on risk, decision‑making, and patience. Over the years, he’s helped millions of everyday investors think differently about money by focusing on clarity instead of complexity.

In this episode, Phil walks us through the 4 M’s of investing, a simple but disciplined framework designed to help inves...