The Balance Sheet

Granite Harbor Advisors

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The Balance Sheet explores the intersection of financial planning, health, wellness, lifestyle, and more. Hosted by the team at Granite Harbor Advisors, each episode offers engaging conversations and insights to help you find balance and inspiration in your personal and professional life. Tune in for fresh ideas, thoughtful discussions, and topics that spark curiosity and growth.

6 JAN

Mariner Fund I Launch Podcast | Granite Harbor Capital

In this special launch episode of The Balance Sheet podcast, Granite Harbor Managing Partner Nick Brown sits down with Derek Taylor, Managing Partner of Granite Harbor Capital, to announce the official launch of Mariner Fund I and discuss the firm’s expansion into private markets. Derek shares his professional background spanning transactional law, private equity real estate, owner-operator manufacturing, and lower middle-market investing, and explains how that experience informs the strategy behind Mariner Fund I. The conversation outlines why Granite Harbor formed a dedicated private markets platform and how the fund aligns with the firm’s long-standing fiduciary, planning-first approach. Mariner Fund I is structured as an opportunity fund, allowing Granite Harbor to deploy committed capital into a curated mix of private equity operating companies, commercial real estate, and select private credit opportunities. The fund emphasizes direct sourcing, off-market transactions, and operator-driven diligence, bringing investors closer to the deal, improving alignment, and enabling faster execution. A key focus of the fund is the Central United States, where the Granite Harbor team sees significant opportunity in overlooked lower middle-market businesses and growing secondary and tertiary real estate markets. These regions offer attractive fundamentals, strong employer-driven growth, and less competition from large institutional capital. Throughout the episode, Nick and Derek discuss why proximity to operators and sponsors matters in private investing, how Granite Harbor’s institutional diligence process is applied across all opportunities, the benefits of consolidating multiple private investments into a single fund commitment, the fund’s target size and investment horizon, and the firm’s exit-focused philosophy. They also share representative examples of real estate and operating company opportunities currently being evaluated for inclusion in the fund. The episode reinforces Granite Harbor’s belief that private markets can play a meaningful role in long-term portfolio construction when paired with disciplined underwriting, active oversight, and thoughtful integration into a client’s broader financial plan. Mariner Fund I is available exclusively to qualified investors. To learn more, visit GraniteHarbor.com or contact marinerinvestors@graniteharbor.com This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute an offer or solicitation. All investments involve risk. Please review all offering materials and consult your financial and legal advisors before investing.

34 min
04/12/2025

Tax Code Shakeups & Smart Strategies: The Year-End Playbook

In this episode of The Balance Sheet, host Nicholas Brown, Managing Partner at Granite Harbor Advisors, sits down with longtime friend, CPA, and valuation expert Craig Fortson, owner of Fortson & Company, a Houston firm with nearly five decades of experience navigating the ever-shifting tax landscape. Together, Nick and Craig break down the big tax story of 2025: meaningful changes that didn’t happen, extensions that did, and what those updates really mean for business owners, high-net-worth families, and anyone trying to maximize tax efficiency before year-end. From the permanence of the 199A deduction to state and local tax updates, untaxed overtime provisions, bonus depreciation, and new nuances for seniors and teachers, Craig brings clarity to a year full of tax noise. Craig also leaves listeners with two powerful closing reminders you don't want to miss! Whether you're a business owner preparing for year-end, an investor looking ahead, or simply curious about what’s changing (and what’s not), this episode offers clear, actionable insight straight from a seasoned CPA. Resources: Learn more about Granite Harbor Advisors at graniteharbor.com Connect with Craig at fortsonandco.com Tune in, take notes, and walk into year-end with confidence.

29 min
30/10/2025

Insuring Wellness: Underwriting Best Practices & the Health Factors That Matter

In this episode of The Balance Sheet, Managing Partner Brian Sak sits down with Tiffany Hyde, Head of Underwriting at Lion Street, for an in-depth look at the vital connection between health, lifestyle, and insurability. Together, they unpack the often-overlooked details behind the underwriting process — from what underwriters truly assess to how preparation and transparency can accelerate approval for high-net-worth clients. Listeners will gain insight into how healthy habits and proactive primary care can improve underwriting outcomes, and learn what a “strong medical profile” really looks like. Tiffany also shares how emerging technologies — like digital health records, wearables, and AI — are reshaping underwriting efficiency and personalization. Whether you’re an advisor helping clients navigate life insurance or an individual preparing for your own underwriting process, this 40-minute episode delivers practical takeaways, expert tips, and a forward-looking perspective on the evolving world of insuring wellness.

41 min
06/08/2025

Embracing a Growth Mindset

We had the pleasure of having our firm's Chief Operating and Compliance Officer, Tasha Slawson, IACCP® as our host on The Balance Sheet! She was joined by a guest near and dear to her heart, Gary Whitehead, CPA, MBA, and we are thrilled to share insights from these two masterminds on Embracing a Growth Mindset -- how taking risks, staying curious, and stepping into the unknown can lead to personal and professional breakthroughs!

39 min
25/06/2025

Your Network Is Your Net-Worth: The Wealth of Relationships

In this episode, Caleb Christian, CFP hosts guest Emily Galindo, co-owner of Next Level NIA. They discuss the power of networking in shaping opportunity, wealth, and mindset. Emphasizing the limitations of working in isolation and the mindset shift required to open oneself to collaboration and connection.

38 min
29/05/2025

Unpacking Irrevocable Trusts: When, Why, and How They Serve High-Net-Worth Families

In this episode of The Balance Sheet, host Dale Shaw sits down with Brian Sak, Managing Partner at Granite Harbor Advisors, to unpack the complex world of irrevocable trusts. They explore the fundamentals of trust planning, compare revocable and irrevocable structures, and highlight strategic tools like SLATs, ILITs, and GRATs used in advanced estate planning. Brian shares practical examples and insights into how thoughtful trust design can reduce tax exposure, preserve family harmony, and build a lasting legacy. The discussion also touches on upcoming tax legislation and the importance of proactive planning in an ever-changing legal landscape.

33 min
24/04/2025

The Stock Market in 2025: Trends, Themes, and Insights for Investors

In this episode of The Balance Sheet, host Nick Brown is joined by Head of Client Communications, Dimensional Fund Advisors, Jake DeKinder. They explore stock market trends, investor behavior, and portfolio preparation. Learn more at graniteharbor.com

37 min
07/02/2025

Navigating Tax Reform in a Shifting Political Landscape

In this episode of The Balance Sheet, host Nick Brown is joined by Managing Partner Brian Sak to explore the potential tax law changes coming in 2025. With the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act set to expire, key provisions like the estate tax exemption, individual tax rates, and deductions such as the Qualified Business Income (QBI) and state and local tax (SALT) deductions are all at risk of reverting to pre-2017 levels. Nick and Brian discuss what these potential changes could mean for high-net-worth individuals and business owners, emphasizing the importance of proactive estate and wealth transfer planning. They dive into strategies to mitigate tax burdens, the role of interest rates in estate planning, and the impact of legislative shifts on long term financial goals.

27 min

The Balance Sheet explores the intersection of financial planning, health, wellness, lifestyle, and more. Hosted by the team at Granite Harbor Advisors, each episode offers engaging conversations and insights to help you find balance and inspiration in your personal and professional life. Tune in for fresh ideas, thoughtful discussions, and topics that spark curiosity and growth.

Creator

Granite Harbor Advisors
Years Active

2024 - 2026
Episodes

16
Rating

Clean
Show Website

The Balance Sheet