Most successful people have a retirement number. Very few have a retirement reason.That's the gap Jason Wendt has spent 15 years closing. After watching client after client arrive with a solid portfolio and a hollow plan, he wrote a book about it. And now, fresh off an Amazon bestseller ranking and a feature segment on NBC Chicago, he's bringing that message to a wider audience.Episode SummaryIn this episode, Gabe McManus sits down with Jason Wendt, a Chicago-based financial advisor and author of Beyond the Numbers, to explore what it really means to build a financially efficient life. Jason shares why he starts every client relationship with the question "What's important about money to you?" rather than a statement of assets. He talks about the three phases of financial life most advisors forget to address, how childhood money narratives quietly shape the decisions of even the wealthiest clients, and why he considers himself the CEO of his clients' financial lives. Jason walks through the specific frameworks, client stories, and planning tools he uses to help people move from saving for a number to building a life around what actually matters to them.About Jason WendtJason Wendt, AIF®, APMA®, CEPA®, is a financial advisor at Ameriprise Financial in Chicago, Illinois, with over 15 years of experience serving high achievers, business owners, and professionals navigating complex financial lives. He holds the Accredited Investment Fiduciary, Accredited Portfolio Management Advisor, and Certified Exit Planning Advisor designations. Jason is the author of Beyond the Numbers: A High Achiever's Guide to Financial Freedom Without Sacrifice, an Amazon bestseller in the financial services category. He recently appeared as a financial expert on NBC Chicago and has been invited to speak at universities in the Chicagoland area.What We CoverWhy Jason's first question to every new client is "What's important about money to you?" and how that one question changes the entire planning processThe three phases of financial life: accumulation, distribution, and enjoyment, and why most financial plans never address the third oneHow childhood money narratives keep wealthy clients from enjoying what they've builtWhat financial paralysis looks like for high-earning professionals and business owners, and how to break through itWhy Jason positions himself as the CEO of his clients' financial lives, with a network of 17 specialists across insurance, estate planning, taxes, and investment managementProactive vs. reactive tax strategy: asset location, Roth conversions, and why timing matters more than most people realizeConnect with Jason WendtWebsite: beyondthenumbersbook.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jasonwendtEmail: [email protected]: Beyond the Numbers on AmazonSupport the show