HFM Investment Advisors

08/27/2026

What’s the difference between owning a business and running one?

For Tom Howard, that distinction has helped him build, buy, and lead multiple home services businesses, while creating companies that can operate without depending on him every day.

On the latest episode of The Entrepreneur’s Journey, Michael sits down with Tom to talk entrepreneurship, leadership, buying and selling businesses, raising the next generation, and why giving back to your community can be part of building a great company.

There’s a lot packed into this one.

🎙️ Listen to the full episode of The Entrepreneur’s Journey today.

08/25/2026

Why we take things one step at a time

Long ago, we used to write up these long, action-packed financial plans for our clients.

You know, the dozens of things that need to be fixed to get your finances and investments working the way you want them to.

But it probably won’t surprise you to hear that those plans would sometimes end up on a shelf, not actioned or even looked at.

It was a good, thorough document, but it wasn’t as helpful as it could have been. So, now, we don’t do that.

We focus on one step at a time.

Because the surprisingly hard part about helping clients with their finances, investments, and exit strategy isn’t figuring out what to do. It’s getting those things done.

Business owners have a lot going on in their lives, so we need to fit into that.

So we boil it down to one or two things at a time, the most important things we need to do next.

Then, we get together throughout the year, talking regularly, to make sure you’ve got the right resources in place. We make sure your other advisors, like your accountant, your tax planner, your lawyer, they’re all on the same page and working the plan.

And we become more than an accountability partner, we’re the team leader, keeping everyone and everything coordinated and on track.

Then, every time we meet, we move another piece forward, or we add another component to work on next.

Because not knowing what needs to be done next can easily keep a business owner from doing anything. It’s hard to make choices and figure out what you want to do with your finances when you have so many competing priorities.

But when you work with a partner like us, who’s been through it before and has connections to people who help sell businesses, you’re able to think about things ahead of time, and plan for your future before you have to make a snap decision.

If you’re somebody who wants to work with a partner who has the context, the plan, and the framework to help you climb the next rung up the ladder, then BuiltWealth is for you.

It’s how we help you work toward getting from where you are today to where you want to be.

One step at a time.

-Jason

08/23/2026

Wishing our favorite Floridian a very happy birthday! 🥳

08/18/2026

So which one is right for you?

We work with a lot of business owners, and some of them never knew that they could exit their business the way they wanted.

That’s why there are questions we ask our clients so we can make sure they have a good footing going into the decision.

Questions like, “Do you plan to sell, or do you plan to pass it down to the next generation in your family?”

A lot of times, it’s within the family. If the kids are in the business or are more entrepreneurial, they might want to take the reins and start running it themselves.

And a lot of business owners don’t know that they can pass it down in an efficient way, which might make their life a lot easier down the road.

Sometimes, the business owner wants to find an outside buyer.

In those cases, they’re usually buying the business, not the ongoing work of the owner. So that means we ask questions to make sure the business is set up in such a way that it can be handed over, without the owner being embedded in all of its systems, unable to get themselves out of it.

In those cases, we may connect the owner with consultants we trust who can make sure they have the right systems and structures set up to make the transition smoother for all parties involved.

And the type of buyer they might be looking to attract, ranging from private equity to a peer business, might change the way they structure their next few years of work to set things up in an appealing way for a particular buyer.

That really cements the importance of planning a few years in advance of an exit.

When you get the check in hand, you want to know that it’s the right amount that will take care of your family and your legacy and the rest of your life.

You want to know that it‘s not going to be chaotic, and that you can be confident you have everything in order, wrapped up in a bow.

A lot of times, business owners will think that the only time they need to understand the value of their company is when they’re trying to sell it.

But we explain to them that running your business as if you were preparing to sell it — even if you aren’t — can often improve how potential buyers or partners perceive its value and may, in some cases, lead to higher proceeds or income. Results depend on factors such as industry, timing, financial performance, and ex*****on.

I should be clear, though, that we’re not management consultants. We’re not profitability consultants.
What we are is a team of financial and investment advisors who work with clients and business owners, all day long, to manage their investments and their finances in their business and throughout their entire life.

And we quarterback their entire team of advisors to get everyone aligned and working together on the clients’ behalf.

All of it starts with questions, because your answers will affect the exit you’re planning for.

And the plan we'll help you create, maintain, and adapt over time to support your objectives.

So let’s sit down and talk about the possibilities, ones you may never have even considered before.

-Michael

So which one is right for you? We work with a lot of business owners, and some of them never knew that they could exit their business the way they wanted. That’s why there are questions we ask our clients so we can make sure they have a good footing going into the decision. Questions […]

08/11/2026

How we help your team of advisors help you

The thing that makes a team a team and not just a collection of individuals is their coordination. Their ability to work together.

A lot of business owners have a bunch of advisors. An accountant. An insurer. A lawyer. You name it, they’ve got one.

But not everyone has a team of advisors working together, on their behalf. Because they don’t have that coordination layer.

They might have a lot of individual strategies, like an insurance policy they bought because someone pitched it and it sounded good. Or they have an estate plan they put in place because an attorney talked to them about it and it made sense at the time. And then their accountant is pitching tax strategies that sound right in isolation.

But what’s the overall plan? What’s it all aiming toward?

It’s like hiring a bunch of companies to build a house without ever hiring a contractor to help them work together.

My job is to help you figure out what you want that picture to look like.
What do you want to have happen?

And then we figure out how to make that happen with all the technical parts, and all the other advisors, working together.

We work directly with your advisors, like bringing in your accountant to see what they think of your wealth plan. Or if you need a resource and don’t have one, we’ll help you find the right specialist, because we have those contacts. The more business owners we work with, the more advisors we work with and form great relationships with.

Ultimately, the idea is that we work with you to develop a cohesive plan and direction for your money, your business, and the life you’re looking to build and lead with your family, tailored to your objectives and subject to your participation and prevailing circumstances.

Part of it is we try to be an accountability partner and give you the things we’ve seen work, those systems that worked for someone else that you might want to take on.

But we boil it down to one or two things at a time, the most important few things we need to do right now.

That takes a partner that’s been here before, that sees the big picture and has experience working with and coordinating sets of advisors.

I believe that what makes an advisor great is being able to bridge the gap between all the smart-sounding jargon and the stuff that actually matters to the client. To you.

Because this is a relationship that we’re going to have together, potentially for many, many years to come.

We’re not just selling a strategy, or a product, or something like that.

We’re offering the ability to have a team working on your behalf, instead of a set of uncoordinated individuals.

Let me know, by replying to this email, if that would help.

-Jason

08/04/2026

In the summer, I try to take time off and spend as much of it as I can with my family.

I’m an experiential type of guy. So I believe in spending your money while you can, on the experiences you want to have with your friends, your kids, your grandkids, and all the important people in your life.

I don’t just want you to spend your money, I want you to spend your money spending time with the people you care about.

I’m going to be honest with you, my personality is all about family and friends.

During the holidays, it’s our house that’s full of joy and cheer and laughter, because everybody gathers here together. That’s what I prioritize.

If you prioritize that, too, great. But maybe you’re thinking about something else, or maybe you have other people in your life you want to spend your time with.

I believe you need to have some sort of hobby, some sort of interest, some sort of plan for how you want to fill your days with purpose and passion.

That’s a lot to think about when you retire. So it’s easier to think about it ahead of time.

Entrepreneurs in the trades are so involved in their business day to day that they often don’t look outside their four walls and get good advice.

And they can end up looking at a big check, or looking for a big check, and realizing that they wouldn’t know what to do with it anyway.

I know that can sound ridiculous.

Of course you know what to do with a lot more money in your pocket. You know what you’d spend it on.

But do you know what you’d spend your time on?

If you want to experience as much time with the people you love, for as long as you can, it helps to start thinking about how you’d spend it as soon as possible. Before you suddenly have to decide, make the decision about what you’re aiming for.

And what a great day for you looks like.

And who is there with you.

Financial freedom doesn’t always have to be as hard as it sounds, or as hard as you think it should be. It can be simpler if you have a strategy and a game plan and someone in your corner to guide you.

That’s our job: to understand where you are today, and where you want to get to in the future.

And then we create clarity around that and work to get everybody on the same page.

Let us know if we can help you have those conversations, and help you make that plan.

So you have it before you need it.

-Michael

In the summer, I try to take time off and spend as much of it as I can with my family. I’m an experiential type of guy. So I believe in spending your money while you can, on the experiences you want to have with your friends, your kids, your grandkids, and all the important […]

07/30/2026

Your financial decisions are about more than just numbers. 💭

In this episode of the Dollar Wise Podcast, Catherine Allen-Carlozo shares how your money story—and your money personality—can shape the choices you make every day.

🎧 Check out the full episode wherever you listen to podcasts!

07/28/2026

What if you don’t want to sell?

You’d be surprised how many times we’ve had that conversation with business owners.
They think they want to sell, but then we ask them, “Okay, what are you planning to do for the next 20, 30, 40 years?”

And, sometimes, they pause and realize, yeah, maybe I don’t actually want to sell at all.

Or maybe they’ve done all the stuff over the course of a year or two to make their business a better business, one that’s making more money without them working more. And they’ve got a happier, more productive team.

The work they did to make the business more attractive to a buyer actually made it more attractive to the current owner and they want to keep it.

But here’s something you might not know: Seller withdrawal is a common cause of deals falling apart.

They didn’t have a clear picture of what comes next, what their purpose is, and what their identity is, outside of the business.

So for all those reasons and more, maybe you’ve decided you don’t want to sell.

My job is to help you figure out what the right picture looks like for you. Which means being able to help even if you’re not ready to sell, or not interested in it.

And our team can give you 360-degree support because everyone working on our team with you knows what‘s going on, what the plan is, and what the next step should be.

We try to be a good partner and makes sure we’re sharing knowledge, which makes things easier on everybody.

So that when you talk to any of us, you get the same advice and support.

It’s okay if you don’t want to sell, or don’t think you’re ready.

We’ll help you manage your retirement plan responsibilities proactively, so you can focus more on supporting your team and growing your business. We can help with your tax strategy, your spending strategy, even your estate planning.

Just remember that it‘s never too early to start having the conversation about where you want your business to go, and what you want it to do for you, your family, and your future.

So get in touch and let’s talk about what comes next.

-Jason

07/27/2026

A little time away from the office goes a long way. ☀️

Our annual summer retreat is always a great reminder that the best work starts with a strong team. Grateful for the opportunity to connect, recharge, and have some fun together before getting back to doing what we love—helping our clients achieve their goals.

Here's to another great year together! 🌊

07/23/2026

Michael Pallozzi and Jason had the chance to speak at the Build it to Sell it conference in Wildwood.

It was a great opportunity to discuss with business owners “The questions you should be asking three years before you exit?”

Thank you to Lance Bachmann and the Build It to Sell It team for all your hard work!