In this episode of More Than Commas, SFG President Cory Shepherd sits down with CEO of Trail CPA, Trent Trailov, to break down the Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction and how business owners can strategically use it to reduce taxes. If you earn non-W2 income, own a business, or operate as a consultant, financial professional, or service-based business owner, this…
The Legacy of Significance™ Process has now given you the powerful tools you need to change your financial future. Let’s face it; we live day to day in a world where money decisions are typically made by following a fad, through advice from a TV show or on a whim. If people talk about money at all, the conversation is most often about the lack of money, the dismal prospects for the economy or similar dis-empowering dialogue.
It’s easy to subconsciously adopt limiting thinking and negative financial habits when we’re constantly exposed to them. Conversely, habits and thoughts can change quickly when we’re involved in a dialogue that supports the achievement of our goals.
During the Legacy of Significance™ Process we have engaged in a powerful conversation that has already begun to change your beliefs about money and your vision of the future.
The final key to keeping wind in the sails of that positive momentum is to expand this conversation to include others in your family and social network.
By sharing this powerful process you will not only open the door for those you care about to achieve greater financial success, research shows you’ll accelerate your own wealth building journey. This step has proven to make a profound difference between individuals who stick with their goals and those who don’t.
Athletes, psychologists, authors, motivators and millionaires recommend that to get where you want to go, surround yourself with people who are going in the same direction. Build your network of friends engaged in this wealth building conversation and you will stick with your plan and attract the goals you set.
If you feel this process has been beneficial to you and that you’re better positioned to grow wealth than before, it would be a pleasure for us to present this same process to friends and family you feel would benefit and would continue this conversation with you. We look forward to the opportunity to expand your circle of empowerment.
Lack of action is the main reason most people fail to reach their goals. We buy motivational CDs and attend seminars that leave us temporarily excited, but soon we return to our usual routines.
Those of us who benefit most immediately have a plan of action. In the first half of this meeting, your vision and strategies will be turned into a concrete and workable plan of action that aligns with your goals and fits into your lifestyle. This is the time to implement the financial products and decision making strategies that together we’ve determined will maximize your present position and set you on a course to achieve your vision.
During the second half of this meeting you will be introduced to your Personal Aggregation Platform. Our web-based financial management system provides you with a highly secure easy to use daily update of your complete financial picture, and offers a secure online “vault” for storing copies of your most important documents and files, including contracts, insurance papers, wills and more. Using this system, you have full control over your finances 24/7. You also have the luxury of knowing an experienced team of professionals are available to you at a moment’s notice.
You can leave this meeting feeling more secure and confident, understanding that you can now spend your time doing what you do best and enjoy most. Strategies are now in place to build your wealth, protect your future and care for your Legacy of Significance™.
Imagine if you were in a boat race and sailed off in one direction without knowing if you were heading toward or away from the finish line. It’s hard to reach your destination if you don’t aim for it.
People often purchase financial products in a random manner without making an assessment as to how those products affect their bigger financial goals. If they haven’t aligned their decisions with those goals their chances of succeeding are slim.
Wealth Design Process™ process provides a simple and effective system for understanding how each decision affects the other and how your cumulative decisions become your life. Once you understand these relationships you are no longer setting sail aimlessly. Achieving the future you want becomes a matter of making decisions that most closely align with your goals.
Earlier we created your vision. In this part of our process we ensure your current and future strategies are consistent with that vision. Our team navigates you through the doldrums and into swift water by providing the tools, systems and information you’ll need to make goal-supporting choices every day.
This meeting is repeated, if needed, comparing and contrasting potential strategies until you find those that you are comfortable implementing.
For thousands of years those who have built up assets have taken measures to protect them. In the past this would appear in the form of walls, moats, or armies. If you were not protecting yourself it would have been obvious to you … and also to those wanting to take your wealth from you.
Today, wealth may be reduced by circumstances. It can also be withered away through the gravity of eroding economic factors. Despite the profound importance of this part of your financial picture, it is often overlooked or not visited regularly enough for you to make effective choices.
In this meeting we will look at how you have protected yourself and your family against the financial losses due to:
The strength of your foundation will determine the stability of everything built from here forward. In our experience, if you do not look at these issues “up front” you might never address them. We have also observed an interesting phenomenon: when this component of your financial life is in place, new possibilities for growth and expansion of wealth open up.
Before reviewing your financial statement, we want to understand your life. Your money isn’t just a figure on a bank statement; it’s the platform from which you create your lifestyle. Most people have not yet cast a clear vision for how they would like the future to turn out for themselves and their families. In this meeting, we’ll assist you in clarifying where you are today and where you dream of being in the future.
The first half of this meeting we’ll help you create a clear description and image of the future you desire. Since achieving goals requires focus, diligence, desire and commitment, your vision must be a goal that you truly believe is worth reaching.
This vision will become your personal compass, a directional indicator guiding you to closely align the choices you make with your goals. Once those goals are set, we help you chart a life course that will be effective, secure and also inspiring.
If someone called you to get directions, the first question you would ask them is, “Where are you right now?” During the second half of this meeting we gather all the information required to establish your current financial position, including bank statements, credit cards, insurance, and investment statements. We use this data to develop strategies that are in alignment with your long-term vision.
Every journey has a beginning and clarifying your financial vision is the beginning of your journey toward achieving it.
Ordinary thinking about money is unlikely to produce extraordinary success. We would like to offer a new way of relating to your current financial decisions and introduce a valuable conversation between you and your Advisor.
Looking at your financial life as a voyage, it is important to set sail for your destination but that’s not all it takes to arrive there safely. You also have to avoid the rocks and protect yourself in stormy seas. There are many unforeseen circumstances in life. We help protect you from the economic impact of those events so you keep the wealth you are building.
“Only high risk brings high return.” We hear this saying so often we believe it’s always true but it’s not. Through appropriate allocation of both assets and knowledge, we can help reduce your risk while continuing to grow your capital.
You don’t have to choose between investing your money outside of your control and maintaining control over it yourself. You will have all the power, information and access needed to make informed financial decisions while also having a team of dedicated Advisors there to guide you. We help you maximize the growth of your money while you maintain control.
We all hold deep beliefs about money and our process will help you uncover yours.
Olga is a Professional Relationship Coordinator at Sound Financial Group, where she helps advisors and trusted professionals build deeper, more meaningful connections. She specializes in creating intentional, value-driven connections between financial advisors, CPAs, attorneys, and other experts who share a commitment to serving clients with excellence.
With a structured approach that includes personalized outreach, curated meeting briefs, and thoughtful follow-ups, Olga thrives handling the relationship-building process from start to finish.
Before joining Sound Financial Group, she built her foundation in project management, client service, and medical administration. Known for her contagious enthusiasm, positivity, and persistence, she brings a relational touch to every interaction. She is fluent in English and Russian.
Olga lives with her three children just North of Seattle. She has fallen in love with the beauty of the Pacific Northwest and has recently taken up an interest in the outdoors and exploring picture worthy spots, all while not being eaten by a bear. She enjoys spending time with her big Russian family and finds joy in the little things.
If you’re a values-driven professional who believes in collaboration over competition, Olga would love to connect.
Lance Chisum brings over 20 years of experience in corporate finance, operations, and strategic planning to his work with individuals and families looking to build a stronger financial future. Throughout his career, he has helped organizations navigate complex business challenges and drive sustainable growth — experience that now fuels his passion for helping people make thoughtful, confident financial decisions.
Lance earned his undergraduate degree in Business Administration, with a focus on international business and finance, from Seattle Pacific University. After several years in the corporate world, he returned to school to complete his MBA at Seattle University, further deepening his strategic and financial expertise.
In 2014, Lance and his family relocated to Boise, Idaho, where they’ve found both community and adventure. Outside of work, he’s an avid skier, recreational pilot, and passionate outdoorsman who enjoys exploring all that Idaho has to offer with his wife and two children.
Cherry Salamera
Client Care Associate
Cherry has over 11 years of experience supporting entrepreneurs and teams around the world. Having worked with clients across various industries, she has developed a strong ability to adapt, communicate clearly, and provide meaningful, reliable support.
Cherry is from the Philippines, where she grew up in a close-knit family where helping one another was part of everyday life, something that continues to shape how she works and connects with others. In her free time, she enjoys simple pleasures like visiting cozy cafés, trying new restaurants with friends, or spending quality time at home with her mom and family, which always brings her a sense of calm. She also loves exploring new places whenever she has the chance.
One of her biggest dreams is to see the Northern Lights, reflecting her curiosity and love for new experiences. For Cherry, life is about building genuine connections, enjoying the little things, and putting care into everything she does.
Elijah was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. Early in life, he recognized an inclination toward serving others through his involvement with a foster kid’s summer camp and various groups that travelled in the states and overseas to provide assistance to people in need. In addition to his desire to help others, Elijah found himself intrigued by strategy and critical thinking. While this started with strategic board games or advanced math classes as a youth, it developed into an interest in financial advising in college. Elijah obtained his bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska – Omaha with a triple major in Finance, Banking, and Investments. After graduating, his finance career began in a broker dealer firm, but this experience left Elijah looking for a firm like Sound Financial Group that prioritizes education and financial coaching over financial product sales. Elijah is passionate about helping individuals meet their goals with tailored investment strategies.
In 2021, Elijah moved to Everett, Washington with his wife, Jess. Together they spend their time exploring the beautiful scenery that Washington has to offer. Elijah enjoys playing softball, drumming on the worship team at his church, and hosting the occasional board game night.
Kwame Boateng
Senior Client Service Associate
Kwame has 15 years of middle and back-office experience at institutions such as Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and most recently, Glass Lewis. Kwame’s skills emanate from his experience navigating complex systems to advocate for his clients and care for their concerns. He is most satisfied when he is resolving issues that stand in the way of clients’ success or peace of mind.
Born and raised in New York, he is the middle child of 5, whose family is originally from Ghana. From an early age, Kwame developed a passion to volunteer and help people, whether at church or school. He graduated from Ohio University with a degree in Economics. Some of Kwame’s favorite hobbies are basketball, softball, hiking, and traveling. He has future travel plans to tour East Asia.
Jackie Rains
Senior Client Service Associate
Jackie joined Sound Financial Group in December 2018 as a client relationship specialist with an extensive background in underwriting, marketing and office management. She has a strong track record of achievements with over 20+ years of experience in the insurance and financial industry. Jackie’s entire career has been devoted to helping people accomplish their goals, the right way. Her best moments are when team members and clients alike share how their lives are better because they’ve been touched by the work of SFG. Committed to excellence, Jackie operates from her personal core values of integrity and service.
Jackie has lived in Parker, Colorado since 1993. Jackie and her husband, David have been married for 25 years. Together, they enjoy hiking, camping, fishing and all things outdoors. They have three grown children who all live in Colorado as well.
Maranda Blackwell
Client Service Team Manager
Born in Alaska, Maranda moved to the greater Seattle area with her three siblings and parents at a young age. She grew up with a strong emphasis on family and community, which has been the main fuel for her lifelong passion to help others. Maranda’s ability to empathize and relate to a wide range of life experiences and personalities has made her a valuable asset on the SFG team. She has a talent for connecting with clients that allows her to quickly understand their concerns and priorities as she builds their relationship with SFG over time.
Maranda lives with her husband, their teenage daughter and a second child due in September 2025. She enjoys traveling abroad, live music, antique shopping, and the occasional DIY weekend project. She has travelled to Japan several times now and would love to own a second home there someday.
Cory is the author of the books Cape Not Required and Your Business Your Wealth (with Paul Adams) as well as the cohost of More Than Commas, a 300+ episode financial podcast. He has also written for Authority Magazine and spoken at multiple events and conferences across various industries. Ever in pursuit of personal growth, Cory has attained the Chartered Financial Consultant® & Certified Financial Planner® designations, requiring thousands of hours of experience and rigorous training. He believes strongly in education as a core component of his work with clients, and he loves the opportunity to build a new spreadsheet.
Cory lives in Chicago with his wife Danielle, their two young children and their rescue dog Kubo. The family most enjoys frequent beach days on Lake Michigan and welcoming friends into their home for fine meals. Cory is an avid tennis player, runner, and lifelong fan of going to the movies.
Financial Advisor
Disclosure
As CEO and founder of Sound Financial Group Paul leads a team of financial professionals dedicated to helping clients define their financial goals then developing unique, tailored strategies to reach them. Paul tells his clients often that they should always make their financial decisions based upon indisputable math and independent scholarship, not based on media hype, hearsay, or trend.
In addition to his specialized financial coaching, Paul is an accomplished speaker, conference panelist and author who has published two essential financial guides – Stop Burning Your Money, Sound Financial Advice and the soon to be released Your Business Your Wealth. He has been interviewed by Forbes, Entrepreneur and Inc. magazines to share his knowledge and passion for helping his clients maintain healthy balance sheets and better steward their finances. He also shares his knowledge as co-host of the long running, More than Commas podcast with more than 300 episodes.
Paul lives North of Seattle, Washington with his wife, Kristen, and their three children – Andrew, Reagan and Vivian. He enjoys traveling, hiking and continuing his personal and professional education. One of his great pleasures in life is spending time outdoors with his family. To facilitate a lifestyle that allows them to travel the country for months at a time he has transformed a traditionally in-person industry into a location independent enterprise.
Financial Advisor
Disclosure
