Clipping Chains Podcast

Today on episode 43 I’m happy to have Chris Weidner, a long-time Colorado Front Range local, writer, husband, and father. This conversation is special to me for unexpected reasons. I hoped to interview Chris about his career as a writer, but what emerged was something far more interesting, and admittedly, brave on Chris’s part as it relates to career and finances. Chris is shockingly frank in many aspects of this conversation in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I really thank him for that, and I hope you will enjoy this truly fascinating discussion about his life, climbing, family, and career.

Topics Discussed with Chris Weidner

• Chris and Heather’s first child, Dallas, and the fascinating origin story of his name.
• The importance of being an all-arounder in climbing, and Chris’s recent alpine ambitions
• The importance of partnership in climbing
• Early jobs to support climbing in Boulder, CO
• A transition to writing and tips for getting published
• Financial support and the unspoken reality of financial security in climbing and related careers
• The creative benefits of procrastination?
• Writing routines and balancing with the climbing life
• First ascent ambitions
• Fitting travel into a training and work schedule
• Adaptations for a new parent
• Climbing with a significant other who is equally driven
• Tips for aging climbers
• The common comfort zone blind-spots of performance climbers
• So much more!

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Show Notes and Links at Clippingchains.com

Today on episode 42 I’m very pleased to host this enjoyable conversation with entrepreneur and climber Ashley Green of Climb On Equipment, a climbing specialty retailer in Squamish, BC.

Today we discuss how Ashley, at age 27 and with hardly a loonie to her name, came to own this business and turn it in to the thriving pillar of the community that it is today. We dive deep into the mechanics of funding this endeavor, maintaining a work/life balance of a serious climber and prospective mother, expanding and building a team, and the value of capitalizing on the serendipity that befalls us all. Finally, we touch on some of the specific town dynamics of Squamish in particular, a place like no other I’ve ever been.

This is the story of a young person getting two struggling businesses, taking risk, and building something amazing on the path toward financial independence.

Topics Discussed with Ashley Green:

• Ashley’s origins as a young climber and traveler
• Why Ashley chose to forego college
• Purchasing a business with virtually no money on hand, specifics on financing and credit card use
• Risk of taking on a struggling business with little to no personal savings
• Work/life balance of a entrepreneur
• Building a team, creating a work culture, and how to choose business partners
• Squamish: the changing demographics and culture of a small mountain town
• Comparison culture: The mental weight of athletic performance in Squamish
• Ashley’s personal finance journey and pursuit of financial independence
• Being a woman in the climbing industry or as a business owner
• So much more!

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Show Notes and Links at Clippingchains.com

I’ve been slack on writing, which is generally a reliable indicator of an overly stressed life. That busyness came to a screeching halt early last week. Five minutes before my partner—let's call him Bob—arrived to pick me up for the new-school classic Spirit of Squamish (5.8, 8 pitches), everything changed. 

At the strike of 6am, just as the sun began to crest over the lush coastal mountains, I bent over to pick up a 1-pound water bottle and felt a lightning bolt of pain in my lower spine. I knew in that moment that I was hosed, but it felt too late to bail. Plus, I often find relief from (mild) back pain when climbing...

...Or so I thought.

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Show Notes and Links at Clippingchains.com

We’re back to the digital mailbag to answer your questions!

For this week:

• Does the 401(k) max include employer contributions?
• Should I invest in my 401(k) or pay down my mortgage early?
• What about Fidelity’s zero expense ratio fund, VZROX?
• Investing tips for a Health Savings Account
• Do you write off business expenses for Clipping Chains?
• How and when do you pay yourself from investments?
• Winter climbing in St. George, Utah
• Big life expenses and expectations when pursuing financial independence: children, weddings, etc.
• Mandatory pension contributions vs DIY investing
• Front-loading savings without going for full financial independence (Coast FI)
• Climbing plateau busters

Support this project: Buy Me a Coffee

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Show Notes and Links at Clippingchains.com

Q1: Does a 401(k) max contribution include employer contributions? (00:05:09)

Q2: Should I shift additional 401(k) contributions toward paying down my mortgage early? (00:05:46)

Q3: What are your thoughts on other index funds that mimic Vanguard’s Total Stock Market Index Fund, such as Fidelity’s VZROX? (00:09:34)

Q4: Investing tips for a Health Savings Account (HSA). (00:15:22)

Q5: Do you write off Clipping Chains business expenses for taxes? Starting a passion project seems intimidating because of up-front and out-of-pocket costs. (00:19:17)

Q6: How and when do you pay yourselves from investments? (00:24:21)

Q7: How is the winter climbing in St. George, Utah? (00:30:07)

Q8: What are your thoughts on big expenses like children and weddings as it relates to the pursuit of financial independence? (00:32:29)

Q9: I have a mandatory pension contribution requirement but I want to invest on my own. What should I do? (00:41:50)

Q10: How can someone front-load their savings to allow for enjoyable (but low-pay) work that still provides for retirement income? (00:46:47)

Q11: Can you talk about significant plateaus or breakthroughs in your climbing? (00:52:21)

Today on episode 39 I’m pleased to welcome long-time climber and Front Range local Peter Beal. Peter, at age 58, has been climbing for over 45 years, with notable achievements including multiple 5.14 first ascents and bagging V12 in his late forties!   But Peter is also known for his critical takes on the culture of outdoor life. Today we discuss some of the realities of meaningful work, family life, and the potential opportunity costs of a life of adventure.

Topics Discussed with Peter Beal

• Peter’s long history in climbing
• A career in art history
• Is majoring in the humanities good for your career?
• The problem with full-time climbing and the “quit your job” culture
• Balancing life and careers with an equally driven and athletic spouse
• Can you afford to be sponsored? Pay transparency in climbing versus other sports
• Peter’s love for writing and his musings on the decline of print media
• Key tips for performance climbing longevity

Support this project: Buy Me a Coffee

Subscribe to the website: SUBSCRIBE ME!

Show Notes and Links at Clippingchains.com

Support this project: Buy Me a Coffee

Subscribe to the website: SUBSCRIBE ME!

Show Notes and Links at Clippingchains.com

Hello! We’re back in the digital mailbag to answer your questions.

In this Q&A episode we take a hard look at inflation, the reality of a bear market, tactics for balancing a career and climbing, saving for a home down payment, my dream interviews, the pros and cons of maxing out retirement plans, cryptocurrency, financial advisors, and traveling the world for cheap. And of course, so much more.

Support this project: Buy Me a Coffee

Subscribe to the website: SUBSCRIBE ME!

Show Notes and Links at Clippingchains.com

Q1: What's the latest on inflation? (00:02:23)

Q2: Should I be worried about the stock market decline and a bear market? (00:06:58)

Q3: How did you personally balance your climbing and work? What did you feel like you prioritized more and why? Did it change over the years or seasons due to certain circumstances? (00:18:09)

Q4: Should I invest to save for a home down payment? What are other methods to save for a home? (00:35:57)

Q5: What’s your dream interview? (00:40:41)

Q6: Should I contribute to my 401k beyond the employer match? (00:47:53)

Q7: What the F is bitcoin and what do you think about it? Do you invest in bitcoin? (00:53:01)

Q8: Do you offer consultations or investing services for other people? (00:57:24)

Q9: What are travel rewards and how can I dramatically reduce my travel spending? (01:00:07)

Today on episode 36 I’m pleased to welcome climber, author, editor, father, and prolific first ascensionist Matt Samet. Recently, Matt was unexpectedly laid off from his position as editor of Climbing Magazine, a position he has held on and off for nearly two decades.

The state of media, particularly print media, is something that has held my attention in recent years. Although I’ve considered reaching out to Matt for some time to discuss his career in writing and climbing journalism, this finally felt like the right moment.

Join us as we take a deeper dive on media, journalism, balancing climbing and other life obligations, as well as some good-ole-fashioned musings on the modern climbing life.

Topics Discussed with Matt Samet

• Matt’s unexpected layoff
• The state of magazines and print media
• The relationship of social media and athletes and the impact on print media
• Matt’s choice to pursue writing as a career
• Dealing with nonconstructive feedback
• How to get involved with professional writing and tips for getting published
• Matt’s battle with benzodiazepine addiction
• Tactics for integrating climbing into a career
• Finding time to be a prolific first ascensionist
• How Matt might be climbing his hardest ever at age 50
• Matt’s thoughts on what’s next in his career
• So much more!

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Show Notes and Links at Clippingchains.com

Find me a person who can talk and you’ll find someone with an opinion on the housing market or real estate investment. And most of those opinions—even from happily settled homeowners—bear the tones of suspicion at best and downright defeat at worst.

Housing prices have skyrocketed a staggering 34% nationwide over the past two years. This rate is essentially an order of magnitude higher than historical home price appreciation. Certain markets are arguably out of hand (to use a technical term). Take Boise, Idaho, where prices are considered 73% overvalued.

Is the booming real estate investment trend at least partially to blame?

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See the Written Post at Clippingchains.com

Today on episode 34 I’m excited to have climber, author, coach, and business owner Eric Horst. Many of you are aware of Eric’s multifaceted influence on climbing, notably performance rock climbing. He is a pioneering figure in the world of climbing training and the author of the international bestselling (and well-named) book, Training for Climbing.

But this guy gets a lot done. In 2020, Eric retired at age 56 as director of Millersville University’s Weather Information Center near his hometown of Lancaster, PA. But he didn’t really retire.

Eric is now properly embracing his love of climbing, leaning into his new business, PhysiVantage, a supplement company for performance climbers.

In this wide-ranging interview we tackle Eric’s recent climbing ambitions since retirement, how he has built a company from scratch, and perhaps most importantly, some key systems Eric uses to maintain his high workload while still enjoying the sport and the family he loves.

Topics Discussed with Eric Horst

• Eric’s ambitions to climb harder than ever in his late 50s
• The importance of family and why Eric always eschewed projecting hard routes
• How Eric balanced two careers, one as a meteorologist and the other as a climbing training expert
• Why Eric was “never cut out to be a dirtbag”
• Where Eric gets his drive to produce content
• How being in the public eye is at odds with his personality
• Why Eric never pursued climbing full-time
• Why Eric retired early from his traditional career at age 56
• PhysiVantage and the psychology of starting a business with a large up-front investment
• The importance of valuing athletes at PhysiVantage
• Accomplishing great work: Time management and time blocking
• Eric’s other interests as he ages: music and golf!

Support this project: Buy Me a Coffee

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Show Notes and Links at Clippingchains.com