When it comes to financial planning, it’s often the behind-the-scenes teamwork that makes everything work seamlessly.

In this episode of Living Beyond the Numbers, Jude Boudreaux and Caleb Arringdale sit down with two of The Planning Center’s client service specialists, Marisa Hardwick (Chicago) and Blake Murphy-Skelley (Moline), to spotlight the people who make sure every account, transfer, and detail is handled with care.

Together, they pull back the curtain on what it really means to serve clients well, solving problems quietly, building trust, and creating a sense of calm even during life’s most stressful moments. From handling RMD season to comforting clients after loss, Marisa and Blake share how empathy, precision, and teamwork bring The Planning Center’s mission to life every day.

What to expect:

• The role client service specialists play in delivering peace of mind
• How small details and follow-ups create big client trust
• What happens behind the scenes during transfers and RMD season
• The emotional heart of financial service and why it matters

Discover the care, coordination, and human connection that keep your financial life running smoothly.

Connect with Jude Boudreaux CFP®

• The Planning Center
• LinkedIn: Jude Boudreaux
• jude@theplanningcenter.com
• Phone: (504) 717-4862

Connect with Caleb Arringdale:

• LinkedIn: Caleb Arringdale
• caleb@theplanningcenter.com
• Phone: (309) 797-4030

Connect with Marisa Hardwick:

• LinkedIn: Marisa Hardwick
• marisah@theplanningcenter.com
• Phone: (312) 664-4090

Connect with Blake Murphy-Skelley:

• blake@theplanningcenter.com
• Phone: (309) 794-4030

About our Guests:

As a Client Services Specialist, Marisa Hardwick’s responsibilities include providing administrative support to our financial planners and excellent customer service to our clients. With a background in healthcare services and working in residential life as a Resident Advisor while in college, it has always been a passion of hers to help those in need. Marisa strives to foster a supportive environment for our team, assuring they can depend on her to deliver top-notch service to our clients.

Blake Murphy-Skelley’s responsibility as a Client Services Specialist is to assist all clients of The Planning Center and members of our team. He has been working in customer service since he was 14 years old and is glad to be bringing that knowledge and experience to The Planning Center. Blake wants to provide a safe space for clients to feel comfortable as soon as they walk through the front door.

College decisions reveal more than numbers; they reveal what we value most.

Discover how to align your financial choices with the legacy you want to build for your family.

Money meets meaning in this candid conversation between Jude Boudreaux, Caleb Arringdale, and Ron Lieber, New York Times columnist and author of The Price You Pay for College and The Opposite of Spoiled. Together, they unpack the emotions and realities behind one of life’s biggest financial crossroads: sending your child to college. From fear and guilt to social pressure and “rejective” schools, Ron reveals how hidden feelings often drive family choices more than finances do. He shares practical insights for making smarter, values-based decisions, asking for more aid without “negotiating,” and teaching kids responsibility through money.

What to expect:

• Why college is a values decision wrapped in a financial one
• The emotional traps families fall into when paying for school
• How to approach merit aid and appeal letters the right way
• The conversation every parent should have before senior year
• And more!

It’s time to move beyond numbers and make decisions that reflect what truly matters to your family.

Resources:

• The Price You Pay for College by Ron Lieber
• The Opposite of Spoiled by Ron Lieber

Connect with Jude Boudreaux CFP®

• The Planning Center
• LinkedIn: Jude Boudreaux
• jude@theplanningcenter.com
• Phone: (504) 717-4862

Connect with Caleb Arringdale:

• LinkedIn: Caleb Arringdale
• caleb@theplanningcenter.com
• Phone: (309) 797-4030

Connect with Ron Lieber:

• Website: Ron Lieber
• LinkedIn: Ron Lieber

About our Guest:

Ron Lieber is the author of The Opposite of Spoiled: Raising Kids Who Are Grounded, Generous, and Smart About Money, which was an instant New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller when it was released in 2015. “The Price You Pay for College: An Entirely New Roadmap for the Biggest Financial Decision Your Family Will Ever Make,” was published by HarperCollins in January, 2021.

Ron has been the “Your Money” columnist for The New York Times since 2008. Before coming to The Times, he wrote the “Green Thumb” personal finance column for The Wall Street Journal and was part of the startup team at the paper’s Personal Journal section.

Ron’s first book, Taking Time Off: Inspiring Stories of Students Who Enjoyed Successful Breaks from College and How You Can Plan Your Own, co-authored with Colin Hall, was a New York Times bestseller in 1996. He also wrote Upstart Start­-Ups, a book for young entrepreneurs, and was the co-author of a guidebook to the best entry­-level jobs in the United States.

Ron spent 14 years at the Francis W. Parker School in Chicago and graduated from Amherst College. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two daughters.

Every entrepreneur’s journey is filled with twists, failures, resilience, and reinvention.

Few embody that better than Robert LeBlanc, founder of LeBlanc + Smith, whose 25-year career in hospitality began with a failed record label and evolved into a collection of acclaimed hotels, restaurants, and bars across New Orleans, Nashville, and beyond.

In this episode, Jude Boudreaux and Caleb Arringdale sit down with Robert to explore the lessons learned along the way about presence, parenting, building a values-based company, and raising the next generation to define success for themselves.

Here’s what you can expect:

• How a “failed” start sparked an entrepreneurial career in hospitality
• The power of presence and gratitude in both business and family life
• Teaching children discipline, resilience, and values without losing their freedom to explore
• Honest conversations about failure, grit, and redefining success beyond money
• And more!

Connect with Jude Boudreaux CFP®

• The Planning Center
• LinkedIn: Jude Boudreaux
• jude@theplanningcenter.com
• Phone: (504) 717-4862

Connect with Caleb Arringdale:

• LinkedIn: Caleb Arringdale
• caleb@theplanningcenter.com
• Phone: (309) 797-4030

Connect with Robert LeBlanc

• Website: LeBlanc + Smith
• LinkedIn: Robert LeBlanc
• Email: info@leblancandsmith.com
• Phone: (504) 267-0241

About our Guest:

Robert LeBlanc is the founder and principal of LeBlanc + Smith, a New Orleans-based hospitality group known for creating boutique hotels, restaurants, and bars rooted in authenticity and community. Over the past 25 years, he has grown the company from a small music venture into a multi-city portfolio by combining creativity, resilience, and a values-driven approach. Passionate about presence, gratitude, and mentorship, Robert leads both his family and his business with a belief that true success is measured not in dollars but in relationships, experiences, and impact.

Every click, text, and email carries more risk today than ever before.

In this episode of Living Beyond the Numbers, Jude Boudreaux and Caleb Arringdale sit down with Brett J Lee, JD, MBA, CSCP, Chief Compliance Officer at The Planning Center, to unpack the evolving world of cybersecurity and what it means for families, professionals, and firms.

Here’s what you can expect:

• The biggest online threats facing high-net-worth families and why they’re different
• Common red flags in phishing emails, texts, and social engineering attempts
• Practical steps you can take today to strengthen your online safety
• How The Planning Center safeguards client information and verifies identity
• And more!

Connect with Jude Boudreaux CFP®:

• The Planning Center
• LinkedIn: Jude Boudreaux
• jude@theplanningcenter.com
• Phone: (504) 717-4862

Connect with Caleb Arringdale:

• LinkedIn: Caleb Arringdale
• caleb@theplanningcenter.com
• Phone: (309) 797-4030

Connect with Brett J Lee:

• brett@theplanningcenter.com
• Phone: (309) 797-4030

About our Guest:

In Brett J Lee’s role at The Planning Center, he strives to protect all stakeholders by cultivating an environment that allows all to feel safe and secure. By promoting an attitude of continuous learning, protecting the essence of the organization’s mission, values, and culture, and nurturing the firm through expertise and education, Brett navigates the organization through complex legal and regulatory environments in the name of protecting TPC and our clients.

Sending a child to college is exciting but it can also be one of the most stressful and expensive decisions a family faces. How do you choose the right school without losing sleep (or breaking the bank)?

In this episode of Living Beyond the Numbers, hosts Jude Boudreaux and Caleb Arringdale sit down with Heidi King from College Inside Track to unpack the overwhelming world of college planning. Heidi shares both her professional expertise and personal experience guiding her own children through the process. From navigating skyrocketing tuition to evaluating merit aid and building a school list that truly fits, she explains why college is not a prize to be won but a match to be found. Listeners will hear how early conversations reduce stress, why the “sticker price” isn’t always the real price, and how families can approach this milestone with clarity instead of panic.

What to expect:

• Why college is the second biggest family purchase after a home
• The surprising truth about merit aid and need-based aid
• How to help your child explore fit without obsessing over prestige
• Practical tips for starting the process early, and keeping stress manageable
• And more!

Connect with Jude Boudreaux CFP®:

• The Planning Center
• LinkedIn: Jude Boudreaux
• jude@theplanningcenter.com
• Phone: (504) 717-4862

Connect with Caleb Arringdale:

• LinkedIn: Caleb Arringdale
• caleb@theplanningcenter.com
• Phone: (309) 797-4030

Connect with Heidi King:

• College Inside Track
• LinkedIn: Heidi King
• heidikingcit@collegeinsidetrack.com

About Our Guest:

Heidi King is part of the education and partnerships team at College Inside Track, a firm that has helped families for nearly 20 years identify the right academic, social, and financial fit for their students. Having guided her own two sons through the process, Heidi brings a unique blend of professional expertise and personal insight to families navigating one of life’s biggest investments.

What does it mean to lead with both confidence and compassion, especially in a numbers-first industry?

In this episode of Living Beyond the Numbers, Jude Boudreaux and Caleb Arringdale sit down with Amy Tessmer, CFO of The Planning Center, to explore how values-driven leadership, intentional balance, and quiet influence are reshaping the financial services landscape. Amy opens up about walking away from the CPA track, why she embraced a flexible schedule even in an executive role, and how financial decision-making becomes more powerful when it’s grounded in personal purpose. She also discusses how women in leadership can become visible examples for others, even when they’re not trying to be.

What you can expect from this episode:

• What CFOs really do (and why it’s not just about spreadsheets)
• Why Amy rejected the traditional partnership track in accounting
• How flexible schedules can unlock high-performance leadership
• Practical advice for professionals seeking more alignment in their work
• And more!

Connect with Jude Boudreaux CFP®:

• The Planning Center
• LinkedIn: Jude Boudreaux
• jude@theplanningcenter.com
• Phone: (504) 717-4862

Connect with Caleb Arringdale:

• LinkedIn: Caleb Arringdale
• caleb@theplanningcenter.com
• Phone: (309) 797-4030

Connect with Amy Tessmer:

• LinkedIn: Amy Tessmer
• amy@theplanningcenter.com
• Phone: (309) 797-4030

About our Guest:

Amy Tessmer is involved in overseeing the accounting function, reviewing financial information, and planning and forecasting. Prior to joining The Planning Center, she spent more than a decade working for CPA firms as a financial statement auditor. Amy loves her role because she gets the opportunity to support the operations of the company so it can continue to grow and impact the lives of more families and individuals across the country.

What does a theater degree have to do with running a financial planning firm?

In this episode, Jude Boudreaux and Caleb Arringdale sit down with Matt Mercer, Chief Operating Officer and shareholder at The Planning Center, to talk about leadership, priorities, and the hidden work that keeps client relationships running smoothly. Matt shares how his theater background shaped his approach to people, process, and change, and why curiosity beats judgment when challenges arise. He opens up about the lessons of fatherhood, the mantra “you can do anything, not everything,” and what it means to put the right people in the right work. Listeners will hear how operations act like WD-40, removing friction so clients feel cared for, and why cooling down after change matters as much as the change itself.

What to expect:

• How curiosity creates trust in leadership and planning
• Why “right person, right work” is client care in disguise
• Practical rhythms for balancing work and family
• Change management lessons that actually stick
• And more!

Resources:

• Learn more at theplanningcenter.com
• Follow The Planning Center on LinkedIn and YouTube for new episodes.

Connect with Jude Boudreaux CFP®:

• The Planning Center
• LinkedIn: Jude Boudreaux
• jude@theplanningcenter.com
• Phone: (504) 717-4862

Connect with Caleb Arringdale:

• LinkedIn: Caleb Arringdale
• caleb@theplanningcenter.com
• Phone: (309) 797-4030

Connect with Matt Mercer:

• LinkedIn: Matt Mercer
• eric@theplanningcenter.com
• mattm@theplanningcenter.com
• Phone: (309) 797-4030

About Our Guest:

As the Chief Operating Officer at The Planning Center, Matt Mercer focuses on optimizing our people, processes, technology, and compliance. Matt’s role involves everything from setting the company’s strategic plan to supporting our operations staff in their daily workflows, onboarding, and training on new technologies, updating internal processes, and overseeing special projects.

After graduating from St. Ambrose University with my B.A. in Theatre, Matt spent ten years working in Operations with multiple companies in the Quad Cities area. He is fortunate enough that these experiences have brought him to The Planning Center, where he enjoys working with our team. In my role, I aim to help build an efficient infrastructure that assists our advisors to focus on their clients.

Some seasons of life arrive suddenly, others build slowly. Either way, change can feel chaotic.

In this conversation, The Planning Center partner Michelle Matom CFP®, EA, CeFT joins Jude Boudreaux and Caleb Arringdale to share how she helps clients move from uncertainty to a grounded “new normal.” You’ll hear why big decisions can wait, how a decision-free zone brings breathing room, and what it really takes to navigate transitions like divorce, widowhood, sudden wealth, and retirement. Expect practical language you can use, gentle structure for hard days, and honest stories from the work of walking with clients through change.

What to expect:

• The four stages of transition and why “passage” takes time
• Creating a decision-free zone that protects you from regret
• Retirement identity, cash-flow rhythms, and mini-experiments
• The role of values in rebuilding what comes next
• And more!

Resources:

• Learn more at theplanningcenter.com
• Follow The Planning Center on LinkedIn and YouTube for new episodes.

Connect with Jude Boudreaux CFP®:

• The Planning Center
• LinkedIn: Jude Boudreaux
• jude@theplanningcenter.com
• Phone: (504) 717-4862

Connect with Caleb Arringdale:

• LinkedIn: Caleb Arringdale
• caleb@theplanningcenter.com
• Phone: (309) 797-4030

Connect with Michelle Matom:

• LinkedIn: Michelle Matom
• michelle@theplanningcenter.com
• Phone: (309) 797-4030

About our Guest:

Michelle Matom, CFP®, EA, CeFT®, is a Senior Financial Planner at The Planning Center. Her most important responsibility as a partner is to help our clients achieve their financial goals. On any given day, you will find Michelle focusing on financial planning, tax strategies and reviews, and transition planning, which helps clients for the inevitable ups and downs in life, for better or worse. In addition, Michelle works with the rest of our team to create more efficient client service systems and processes.