When is the right time to start financial planning? Is it only after you’ve “made it,” or is it something you should be thinking about much earlier as a business owner?

For many entrepreneurs, financial planning feels like something they’ll get to later. But the truth is, real planning isn’t about perfect timing or complex spreadsheets—it’s about clarity. It’s about understanding your goals, your values, and the “why” behind your decisions. Saving money is important, but planning is what turns uncertainty into confidence and gives your future direction.

In this episode, Oliver Kotelnikov sits down with Tim Melia, Principal at Embolden Financial Planning, for an honest and practical conversation. Tim shares his journey from the tech world into wealth management, lessons learned as a business owner, and his passion for helping clients—from Gen Z to Baby Boomers—make smart, values-aligned financial decisions.

If you’re looking for clear guidance and want to start financial planning in a way that actually fits your life, this episode is for you. Listen in, reflect on what truly matters to you, and take the first step forward.

Guest Links:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/timjmelia
Company: https://www.emboldenfp.com/
Email: tim.melia@emboldenfp.com

Connect with Oliver:
Email: oliver@ibainc.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/oliverkotelnikov
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NextVentureAlliance
Instagram: instagram.com/nextventurealliance

• (00:00:00) - What Does It Take to Build a Startup?
• (00:00:31) - Startups and Real Estate: The Venture Alliance
• (00:02:30) - How to Start a Business and Get Paid
• (00:08:43) - How to Talk About Financial Planning in a Vocabulary
• (00:15:07) - Should I Offer Financial Planning as an Advice Only Fee?
• (00:21:23) - The Importance of Financial Planning for Kids
• (00:28:57) - What is College Planning for Your Kids?
• (00:31:05) - How to Plan for the Business's eventual sale
• (00:35:42) - How Much Money Do You Need to Sell Your Business?
• (00:39:18) - The Non-Numbers Conversations
• (00:43:57) - How Do You Integrate Your Personal and Professional Lives?
• (00:48:40) - Do Tax Laws Affect How You Structure Your Advice?
• (00:56:53) - The Importance of Talking About Goals With Clients
• (01:01:18) - Will Money Advice Be Replaced by Artificial Intelligence?
• (01:08:42) - In the Elevator With Madison Management
• (01:09:34) - Turnaround: Starting a Business on Your Own
• (01:14:53) - A. Work-Life Balance
• (01:17:02) - In the Transition of a Business
• (01:18:47) - Starting a Business: Flexible Plans
• (01:19:35) - How to Die With Zero
• (01:28:12) - A Financial Planner's Introduction Meeting

What does it really take to turn a simple cup of coffee into a thriving community hub? Is the American dream of entrepreneurship still alive in today’s specialty coffee scene? And how does someone go from spinning records in nightclubs around the world to roasting coffee beans in a quiet seaside town?

Behind every successful small business is a story of reinvention, risk, and resilience. True entrepreneurship often looks less glamorous than people imagine—it’s built on consistency, grit, and showing up even when the work feels ordinary. Personal background, an eye for opportunity, and a deep connection to community can turn a business into something far greater than its product, especially when adaptability and long-term commitment lead the way.

In this episode, Oliver Kotelnikov explores Ben Cook’s remarkable journey—from a bohemian upbringing in Berkeley and a thriving DJ career across New York and Europe, to becoming the owner of Better Living Through Coffee in Port Townsend. Together, they unpack lessons from family entrepreneurship, the influence of music and travel, the realities of staff culture, and the challenges—both literal and figurative—of running an independent café, all while debunking myths about what success really looks like.

If this conversation sparked ideas about entrepreneurship, community, or redefining success, take the next step—listen to the full episode, visit or support Better Living Through Coffee, and subscribe, share, or leave a review.

Guest Links:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/benjamincook2
Company: ptcoffee.com
Email: ben@ptcoffee.com

Connect with Oliver:
Email: oliver@ibainc.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/oliverkotelnikov
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NextVentureAlliance
Instagram: instagram.com/nextventurealliance

• (00:00:00) - The Next Venture: What It Takes to Build a Business
• (00:00:38) - In the Elevator With Oliver Kotelnikov
• (00:01:34) - The Story of Pete's Coffee and Starbucks
• (00:06:42) - When Did Coffee and You First Cross paths?
• (00:08:12) - Top Coffee Producers on Their Coffee
• (00:12:39) - The Importance of the Harvest Festival
• (00:17:00) - How to Keep Your Place in the Business
• (00:18:09) - Being a rebel at school
• (00:26:17) - The cafe's relaxed culture
• (00:31:50) - The golden years of your life
• (00:36:51) - On Growing Up Without A Helicopter
• (00:38:58) - Dance Lessons For Young People In The 90s
• (00:41:47) - Living in the Ghettos of Oakland
• (00:45:31) - Talking Heads on His Discography
• (00:49:45) - Ben Collins on Working With Rick Rubin
• (00:54:28) - "For the Sake of Art"
• (00:55:15) - Benji On The End of His Music Career
• (01:00:40) - Maroon 5 on Starting a Record Label
• (01:06:02) - How I Learned To Stop Worrying About My Job
• (01:08:04) - Bailing out on a boat
• (01:13:10) - The culture of working in Russia
• (01:16:37) - "Seven Times I Went to Moscow"
• (01:21:04) - In the Elevator With Bernie
• (01:26:48) - The life of a farm hand
• (01:31:11) - Baristas on Buying a Coffee Shop
• (01:36:14) - Becoming an Owner of a Coffee Company
• (01:40:44) - The cafe that survived the Great Recession
• (01:41:52) - Bill Gates on Consistency
• (01:47:11) - One of the managers at Nordstrom's said
• (01:52:53) - Portland Coffee Roasters on their Coffee
• (01:57:56) - Better Living Through Coffee
• (02:01:39) - Sip & Coffee: Better Living Through the Coffee
• (02:07:10) - A Pink Floyd Song

What if the evolving landscape of hospitality isn’t just about changing consumer behavior — but a signal for advisors and brokers to rethink how they guide client success? Are you equipping your clients with data-driven strategies, or relying on assumptions shaped by a different era?

In this episode, Jason Brandt, President and CEO of the Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association, along with Joseph Holcraft, hospitality M&A advisor at IBA, explore why past experience alone is no longer enough to stay ahead.

Together, they unpack labor market realities, leadership challenges, and the risks of static thinking. From the quiet power of engaged teams to the growing role of innovation — including AI, tax strategy, and evolving guest expectations — the conversation highlights how authentic listening and strategic partnerships create long-term resilience.

If you’re ready to move beyond hoping for better conditions — and start intentionally shaping the future of your deals and advisory practice — subscribe for more grounded conversations designed to help you grow your deal flow and strengthen your role as a trusted advisor.

Guest Links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonmbrandt/
Company: https://www.oregonrla.org/
Email: jbrandt@oregonrla.org

Connect with Oliver:
Email: oliver@ibainc.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/oliverkotelnikov
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NextVentureAlliance
Instagram: instagram.com/nextventurealliance

• (00:00:00) - Next Venture: What It Takes to Build a Business
• (00:01:55) - Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association President and CEO
• (00:05:04) - Restaurant Hotel Owners: The New Normal
• (00:07:54) - What Needs to Change in the Hospitality Industry?
• (00:11:48) - Restaurant Review: The New Model
• (00:23:24) - Oregon and California: Tip Credits vs. Minimum Wage
• (00:26:26) - Oregon's minimum wage law
• (00:30:06) - Oregon Tourism Jobs: Save Tourism Jobs
• (00:36:47) - Do Small Businesses Need SBA Financing?
• (00:40:55) - ORLA: What Business Owners Should Know About ORLA
• (00:53:13) - Restaurants and Hotels: Voices of the Industry
• (00:59:15) - The importance of skilled tax preparers in the hospitality industry
• (01:08:30) - Oregon's commitment to the hospitality industry
• (01:18:26) - Culinary and Business Management Teams Compete at Nationals
• (01:21:20) - Portland's food and culture scene
• (01:30:05) - Portland Business Talk: Hybrid Work
• (01:33:44) - What are some of the top resources in the kind of hospitality industry
• (01:40:53) - Setting the Table: Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential
• (01:46:30) - Restaurant and Lodging Industry Outlook for 2026
• (01:52:49) - Next Venture Alliance: Exploring the Future