Money Maestro

Thriving Musician Podcast · Ep. 82: Seasoned marketing executive discusses industry evolution and artist support

In this episode of the Thriving Musician Podcast, Spenser welcomes Carolyn Ortiz, a seasoned marketing and operations executive with over 20 years of experience in the music industry. Carolyn’s career has spanned across prestigious organizations like Universal Music Group, Chanel, Viacom, and more recently, her own venture, Big Ass Kids, a record label and creative agency she co-founded in 2020. This in-depth conversation dives into Carolyn’s insights on industry evolution, artist support, financial literacy, and the challenges of balancing a career with personal life.

Ep. 81: Texas CPA helps the music industry get the numbers right

By Spenser Liszt

On July 8, 2024

In Podcast, Retirement, Taxes

Listen on: Apple – Spotify – Soundcloud

Thriving Musician Podcast · Ep. 81: Texas CPA helps the music industry get the numbers right

Rachel Stas is a CPA with over fifteen years of experience in accounting and tax services.

She holds both a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Accountancy Degree from the University of Oklahoma. She has established herself as the go-to advisor in the small business and artist communities and regularly speaks to both about their taxes and best practices. Rachel prefers to be “in the mix” when dealing with clients, whether helping with questions about deductions for their tax returns or helping a new business establish a bookkeeping system.

Her goal is to minimize her client’s stress regarding bookkeeping and taxes so that they can focus on what they love!

Ep. 80: Student loan expert secures $10 million in forgiveness for clients

By Spenser Liszt

On July 1, 2024

In Debt, Podcast

Listen on: Apple – Spotify – Soundcloud

Thriving Musician Podcast · Ep. 80: Student loan expert secures $10 million in forgiveness for clients

Emma Crawford is a financial planner at an hourly-only, fee-only financial planning firm in Madison, WI. She has the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (TM) designation, the Certified Student Loan Professional (R) designation, and a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Minnesota. Growing up low-income, she remembers the stress and anxiety that finances brought her, especially when it came to repaying her student loans. She doesn’t want anyone to feel how she did back then. Now, she is a self-described student loan nerd and focuses on helping her clients get as much loan forgiveness as possible. She has consulted on over $100 million in student loan debt and has helped her clients receive over $10 million in loan forgiveness.

Ep. 79: Instrument Insurance 101

By Spenser Liszt

On June 24, 2024

In Insurance, Podcast

Listen on: Apple – Spotify – Soundcloud

Thriving Musician Podcast · Ep. 79: Instrument Insurance 101

Laura Donelan began her career in insurance in 1987 and has experience in Personal Lines, Commercial Lines customer service, Wholesale, and Marketing. She joined SterlingRisk’s Marketing Dept in 1994 and transferred to the Programs Dept soon after, handling all programs, one being property insurance for members of the Local 802 Musicians Union. In 1999 Sterlingrisk teamed up with ASCAP to form MusicPro Insurance Agency LLC as a joint venture. Laura left in 2002 to be a stay at home mom to twins and returned in 2006 to handle MusicPro exclusively. She currently services over 10,000 clients.

Ep. 78: Bassist navigates the modern music industry

By Spenser Liszt

On June 17, 2024

In Cash Flow, Investing, Music Business, Podcast, Retirement, Saving, Taxes

Listen on: Apple – Spotify – Soundcloud

Thriving Musician Podcast · Ep. 78: Bassist navigates the modern music industry

Mat Maxwell is an American musician with almost two decades of studio and touring experience, specializing in the electric bass. He has played this instrument with some of music’s biggest names, performing all over the world. Mat is also the author of “Hired Musician: A Guide to Getting and Keeping Gigs,” a book offering insights on navigating the modern music industry. Beyond his touring and session work, Mat also enjoys teaching lessons and hosting clinics… a good cigar and tasty beverages.