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The Compound Commitment

Mike Nilson

Welcome to the Compound Commitment, where we focus on the small actions that compound over time. I'm your host, Mike Nilson. Join me every Tuesday as we build the habits that support wealth, health, and happiness.

Each week, we share insights on investing, wealth management, and financial planning alongside practical strategies for nutrition, sleep, relationships and happiness.

Check out compoundcommitment.com to sign up for a complimentary 30-Day Wealth, Health, or Happiness Commitment.

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#57
Today · 25 min
How to Build a Legacy That Fits Your Family: The Legacy Loop Series w/ Rhiannon Nilson
Episode 057: How do you decide what your family wants to strengthen—and choose practical ways to live it out? In this episode, Rhiannon and I share how we created our own Legacy Loop around three principles: family, health, and meaningful work. We explain why every family should use language that connects with its own experiences, values, and vision rather than simply copying ours. We also explore the difference between principles, strategies, and techniques. Principles define what matters. Strategies provide a consistent path for strengthening it. Techniques can change as our lives, resources, and family members change. Using family vacations as an example, we discuss how our stories revealed what mattered to us and helped us choose a strategy that brings our family closer. We also talk about the role money plays in the process—not as the goal, but as one of many tools we can use to strengthen what matters most. You don’t need a large inheritance or a perfect plan to begin. You can start by asking what you want to strengthen in the next generation, examining the stories that shaped you, and choosing a few intentional ways to put those values into practice.
#56
October 13 · 35 min
What Are We Really Passing Down? The Legacy Loop Series w/ Rhiannon Nilson
Episode 056: What are we really passing down to the next generation? In this episode, Rhiannon and I explore a definition of legacy that goes far beyond money or inheritance. To me, legacy is generational strength—what we strengthen today so the people, families, businesses, and communities we care about can continue growing long after we’re gone. We also introduce the Three Levels of Legacy. It begins with Connection: strengthening the relationships that hold people together. From there, we build Capacity by helping each person grow stronger in mind, body, and spirit. Finally, that strength creates more opportunities for Contribution. For our family, we simplify those levels into three words: family, health, and meaningful work. Your words may be different, but the goal is the same—to define what matters most and intentionally strengthen it. Legacy isn’t something we leave behind someday. It’s something we’re building right now.
#55
October 6 · 35 min
Three Questions to Ask Before Giving Your Kids Money: The Legacy Loop Series w/ Rhiannon Nilson
Episode 55: How much financial help should you give your kids? In this episode, Rhiannon and I introduce the Resistance Triangle—a practical framework for making thoughtful parenting and money decisions. Using back-to-school shopping as a real-life example, we explore three questions: What is the purpose? How ready is the child? And what is the appropriate amount? We discuss why treating children fairly doesn’t always mean treating them equally, how gratitude and maturity should influence financial support, and why the right answer may change as each child grows. The goal isn’t to find one perfect formula—it’s to make intentional decisions, learn from the results, and adjust along the way.
#54
September 29 · 37 min
Parenting Like a Strength Coach: The Legacy Loop Series w/ Rhiannon Nilson
Episode 054: In this episode, Rhiannon and I explore two timeless principles that shaped my career as a strength coach and continue to influence how we raise our kids: resistance and growth. In the weight room, too little resistance makes an athlete weaker, while too much can overwhelm or injure them. Parenting works much the same way. Our challenge is to meet each child where they are, provide the right amount of resistance, and allow them to work through difficult experiences without taking over. We share some honest examples of times we may have pushed our kids too hard, made life too easy, or disagreed about the best way to help them grow. We also discuss why growth is never a straight line, how strength can fade when we stop practicing it, and why comparing siblings to one another can rob us of the opportunity to appreciate their individual progress. We certainly don’t have parenting figured out, but these principles have helped us become more intentional about preparing our kids for real life—and reminding ourselves that every person is on their own growth curve.
#53
September 22 · 24 min
How To Make Decisions That Match Your Values: The Legacy Loop Series w/ Rhiannon Nilson
Episode 053: How do we make good decisions when there are endless options and no obvious right answer? In this episode, Rhiannon and I unpack the PST process—principles, strategies, and techniques—the most powerful and useful decision-making framework I’ve ever applied to my life. I first learned it through my strength & conditioning mentor, Gary Gray, and it helped me stop chasing the newest exercises and start anchoring my decisions to the principles behind them. We explain how principles give us a foundation, strategies provide direction, and techniques give us the flexibility to respond to different people, seasons, and circumstances. We also explore the difference between universal truths and the values that are personal to each family, and how a strategy such as family vacations can be used intentionally to strengthen relationships. Rhiannon shares why the language of PST confused and frustrated her for years—and why she eventually discovered that the framework wasn’t as rigid as it initially sounded. Once we understood it together, it gave us a shared language for evaluating our choices and asking a better question: Does this decision strengthen what matters most to us? This is the same framework I’ve used in training, parenting, relationships, and money—and the framework I used to build the Legacy Loop.
#52
September 15 · 24 min
The Inheritance Trap: The Legacy Loop Series w/ Rhiannon Nilson
Episode 052: What if the greatest gift we can give our kids isn’t an easier life, but the right amount of resistance to help them grow? In this episode, Rhiannon and I explore the inheritance trap—the danger of allowing money to remove the challenges that build confidence, work ethic, gratitude, and purpose. We reflect on the seasons when we had less, why working toward something can be more meaningful than finally getting it, and how difficult it is as parents to watch our kids struggle when we have the ability to help. We also discuss how both too much and too little financial support can weaken the next generation. Using college as an example, we wrestle with how to help our kids without removing their responsibility or forcing them to carry unnecessary burdens alone. Ultimately, we stopped asking, “How much money should we leave our kids?” and began asking a better question: “What do we want our money to strengthen?” That shift is helping us think more intentionally about using money to strengthen our kids, their relationships, and the values we hope will continue for generations.
#51
September 8 · 31 min
Dreaming About The Life We Wanted: The Legacy Loop Series w/ Rhiannon Nilson
Episode 051: In this episode, Rhiannon and I look back at the dreams we wrote down when we had very little money—and the fun we had watching many of them come true. We talk about our 101-goal lists, traveling to places we had never been, my early Save/Invest/Give coffee cans, and eventually building the dream house we had pictured for years. But achieving that dream left us with an unexpected question: Now what are we saving for? We explore why money should never become the goal, how dreaming can create incredible memories, and why enjoying life today and building something meaningful for tomorrow don’t have to compete. The deeper question isn’t simply what we want to accomplish or acquire—it’s what we want our money to strengthen. This conversation ultimately sets the stage for an even harder question: If struggle helped us grow, how much of it should we remove from our children’s lives?
#50
September 1 · 29 min
What Should We Give Our Kids? The Legacy Loop Series w/ Rhiannon Nilson
Episode 050: How do we give our kids a great life without taking away the struggle, desire, and gratitude that helped shape us? In this episode, Rhiannon and I look back at some of the decisions we wrestled with while raising our kids—from battery-powered cars and expensive shoes to chores, allowances, and family experiences. We share the choices we made, the ones we still question, and the tension between giving our kids opportunities and giving them everything they want. These stories helped us recognize why our family needed the Legacy Loop. Most financial decisions aren’t really about money—they’re about what we want to strengthen in the lives of the people we love. We may not get every decision right, but a clear vision can help us use money as a tool instead of allowing it to quietly become the goal.
#49
August 25 · 28 min
When Money Became The Goal: The Legacy Loop Series w/ Rhiannon Nilson
Episode 049: What happens when money quietly shifts from being a tool to becoming the goal? In this episode, Rhiannon and I look back at a season when our lives became focused on building—buying our first fourplex, adding rental properties around Gonzaga, starting businesses, working multiple jobs, and trying to create financial security for our future family. What started as an exciting challenge eventually taught me an important lesson: if you don't know what money is for, it's hard to know when you have enough. We share the fun, the resistance, the risks, and a few of our favorite memories from those years—including Rhiannon's reaction when I wanted to use our house savings to buy a fourplex, the scary basement she refused to enter, managing dozens of college renters, and finally buying the home where we would begin raising our family. I don't regret those years of working, learning, and building. But looking back, I wish I had understood sooner that money was never supposed to be the destination. It was a tool to help us build the life that mattered to us. And that sets up the question we'll wrestle with next: What is money for once you have kids?
#48
August 18 · 30 min
Chasing Purpose Before Money: The Legacy Loop Series w/ Rhiannon Nilson
Episode 048: What if the most important career decision you make has nothing to do with money? In this episode, Rhiannon and I continue our journey from college into the early years of marriage—when we were chasing purpose long before we were chasing wealth. We look back on everything from my surprise marriage proposal at Gonzaga, to the uncertainty of tearing my Achilles before graduation, to moving across the world so I could pursue my dream of playing professional basketball in Germany. Those years were filled with unknowns, setbacks, and plenty of moments where we had no idea what came next. But they also became some of the most meaningful years of our lives. We share what it was like living in Germany with one space heater, a handful of DVDs, and very little money. Rhiannon talks about how teaching at an international school helped her discover a new calling, while I share how falling in love with strength and conditioning eventually became a bigger dream than basketball itself. We also revisit one of the most difficult seasons of our marriage—returning home after my basketball opportunity unexpectedly disappeared, living in my parents' basement, working temporary jobs, and trying to figure out what our future would look like. Looking back, we realize those weren't detours. They were preparing us for everything that came after. In this episode, we discuss: Why pursuing meaningful work was more important than chasing the biggest paycheck. How setbacks often become the turning points that shape our future. What living in Germany taught us about gratitude, simplicity, and marriage. Why shared struggles often strengthen relationships more than shared successes. How the right amount of resistance helped shape our marriage and our future. One of the biggest lessons from this conversation is that purpose isn't always found on a straight path. Sometimes it's uncovered through disappointment, uncertainty, and the doors that unexpectedly close. Those early years didn't make us wealthy. They made us stronger. Next Episode: When Money Became the Goal — As our careers began to take off, we found ourselves making smart financial decisions, buying rental properties, and building businesses. But somewhere along the way, I slowly stopped asking what money was for and started measuring success by how much I could accumulate. That shift changed everything—and ultimately became one of the biggest lessons behind the Legacy Loop.
#47
August 11 · 29 min
The Struggle Money Can't Buy: The Legacy Loop Series w/ Rhiannon Nilson
Episode 047: Some of our favorite memories came during the years when we had the least amount of money. In this episode, Rhiannon and I look back on our college years, sharing the stories that shaped the way we think about money, parenting, and legacy today. We laugh about stretching every dollar, hunting for the best deals, living on cheap meals, and discovering that creativity and friendship often flourished because we didn't have much. We also revisit some of our biggest financial mistakes. Rhiannon shares the story of opening her first credit card and the lessons she learned from debt. I talk about running out of money for rent in college and the embarrassment of facing my landlord every week until I could finally pay him back. Looking back, neither of us would choose those moments again—but we also wouldn't trade what they taught us. That leads us to one of the biggest questions we've wrestled with as parents: If some of our greatest lessons came from not having enough money, how do we give our kids opportunities without taking away the experiences that build character? Throughout the conversation, we explore why some lessons can be taught while others have to be lived, why mistakes are an essential part of growth, and how our job as parents isn't to eliminate resistance but to provide the right amount at the right time. We also begin sharing how these experiences eventually led us to create the Legacy Loop—a framework that helps us think less about how much money to give and more about how money can strengthen our family. In this episode, we discuss: - Why some of our happiest memories came from having very little money. - The financial mistakes that taught us lessons we'll never forget. - Why pain is often one of life's greatest teachers. - The challenge of helping our kids without preventing them from growing. - How the Principle of Resistance applies to money, parenting, and life. - Why asking better questions leads to better financial decisions. This episode is about much more than college memories. It's about discovering that wealth isn't measured by what we own—it's measured by who we're becoming. Next Episode: Chasing Purpose Before Money — We continue our journey from college into early marriage, professional basketball in Germany, and the beginning of my career as a strength coach at Gonzaga. Before money ever became a goal, we were simply chasing meaningful work—and those years shaped the foundation for everything that followed.
#46
August 4 · 33 min
Why Opposites Build Stronger Families: The Legacy Loop Series w/ Rhiannon Nilson
Episode 046: When I first got married, I thought the best partner would be someone who agreed with me, made life easier, and saw the world the same way I did. Twenty-five years later, I've learned the opposite is true. In this episode, Rhiannon and I share how our differences have become one of the greatest strengths in our marriage, our family, and even the book we're writing together, What Is Money For? I'm an internal processor who loves building systems and organizing ideas. Rhiannon is an external processor who asks tough questions, challenges my thinking, and helps uncover blind spots I never would have seen on my own. Those conversations haven't always been easy, but they've made our relationship—and the ideas behind the Legacy Loop—far stronger than either of us could have created alone. We also talk about something every family faces: how much of our parents' influence we should carry into our own marriage. While we're incredibly grateful for everything our families taught us, we've learned that every couple has to create their own story, their own values, and their own way of using money to strengthen the people they love. In this episode, we discuss: - Why healthy resistance strengthens relationships. - How different communication styles have become one of our greatest assets. - Why families should write their story instead of repeating previous generation's. - How the Principle of Resistance applies to marriage, parenting, & family legacy. - Why the best conversations often produce the strongest ideas. This episode isn't really about communication—it's about growth. Because the people who challenge us the most are often the people who help us become our best. Next Episode: The Struggle Money Can't Buy — We look back on our college years and early marriage, sharing how having very little money created some of our favorite memories and shaped the way we're thinking about raising our own kids as Carter heads off to college.
#45
July 28 · 22 min
What Is Money For? New Book Series
Episode 045: For years, I've been fascinated by one question: What is money for? Most of us spend decades working hard, saving, investing, and sacrificing for the future. But very few of us ever stop to ask what we're actually trying to accomplish once we've built wealth. That question changed the way my wife Rhiannon and I think about money, parenting, and legacy. It led us to create what we now call the Legacy Loop—a framework that's helping us use money to strengthen our relationships, create more purpose, and prepare future generations instead of simply passing down assets. This episode kicks off a special series based on my new book, What Is Money For? Over the next several months, Rhiannon will be joining me as we share the stories, lessons, successes, mistakes, and frameworks that have shaped our family's journey. We'll talk about everything from creating a family vision and defining your values to paying for education, family vacations, entrepreneurship, giving, and one of the most practical tools we've ever developed—the Resistance Triangle—to help answer difficult financial decisions. I want to be clear: we don't have all the answers. We're still learning. We're still refining. And we're still having the same conversations many families are having. What we do have is a framework that's helping us ask better questions and make more intentional decisions together. If you've ever wondered, What is all this money actually for? Or how can I use wealth to strengthen my family instead of weaken it? I think you're going to enjoy this series. Thanks for joining me at the beginning of this journey and I can't wait to share it with you!
#44
July 21 · 49 min
Bringing Families Together: How to Hold a Family Legacy Meeting w/ Iran Harvell
Episode 044: We've talked about the legal documents. We've talked about values, legacy, and trusts. Now comes the hardest—and arguably the most important—part of the process: Talking about it. In the final episode of this three-part series, estate planning attorney Iran Harvell shares how families can have meaningful conversations about money, legacy, and the future before a crisis forces them to. Because the best estate plans don't begin with legal documents. They begin around the dinner table. Iran walks through why family meetings matter, when to have them, who should be included, what should be shared, and how parents can begin introducing these conversations to children in age-appropriate ways. She also shares common mistakes families make, stories from her own experience, and practical ideas to help you start the conversation with confidence. If there's one lesson I've learned through my own family's journey, it's this: your estate plan should never be a surprise your family discovers after you're gone. It should be an ongoing conversation that strengthens your relationships while you're still here. In this episode, you'll learn: - Why family meetings are one of the most overlooked parts of estate planning - When to start having conversations about money and legacy - Who should be included in a family meeting - A simple agenda for your first family meeting - Common mistakes families make—and how to avoid them - How to include children in age-appropriate conversations - Ways to reinforce family values, not just financial information - Simple ways to start the conversation this week My biggest takeaway from this series is that estate planning isn't really about documents, trusts, or taxes. It's about people. The legal documents provide the framework, but the conversations are what give those documents life. And sometimes, the greatest legacy we leave isn't measured by what we pass down—it's measured by the relationships we strengthen along the way.
#43
July 14 · 44 min
Passing Down More Than Money: Values, Legacy & Trusts w/ Iran Harvell
Episode 043: In Part One of this series, Iran Harvell reminded us that estate planning isn't really about documents—it's about people. Today, we take the next step. Before we talk about trusts, revocable versus irrevocable, or any of the legal strategies families use to protect their wealth, we start with a much more important question: What is your money for? One of the greatest gifts my parents gave my siblings and me wasn't financial. It was clarity. Together, we created a family legacy document that defined our values, our purpose, and the role we wanted money to play in our lives. That experience completely changed the way I think about wealth. In this conversation, Iran shares why legacy is about so much more than passing down money. We discuss how families can intentionally pass down values, why trusts aren't just for wealthy families, and how the right planning can help protect not only your assets, but the people you love. Whether you're just beginning to think about estate planning or already have a trust in place, I think this episode will encourage you to think beyond legal documents and ask the bigger question: What kind of legacy do you want to leave? In this episode, you'll learn: - Why legacy begins with values, not wealth - How families can define what money is really for - The difference between a will and a trust - When a revocable trust makes sense - Why someone might choose an irrevocable trust - Common misconceptions about trusts - How trusts can protect beneficiaries, not just distribute assets - Practical steps to begin building a lasting family legacy My biggest takeaway from this conversation is that money, by itself, doesn't create a legacy. Legacy comes from the values, relationships, and experiences that money supports. Trusts are simply one of the tools that can help those values live on long after we're gone.
#42
July 7 · 50 min
Protecting the People You Love: The Estate Planning Documents Every Adult Needs w/ Iran Harvell
Episode 042: Estate planning is one of those topics that many people know they should address, yet far too many families put it off until it's too late. In Part One of my three-part conversation with estate attorney Iran Harvell, we focus on the foundational estate planning documents that every adult should understand and have in place. Iran serves as the Executive Director of Estate & Financial Planning at Hightower Advisors and has spent her career helping families navigate some of life's most important legal, financial, and legacy decisions. What I appreciate most about Iran is her ability to make complex topics simple and approachable. In this episode, we discuss the key documents that help protect you and the people you love, including wills, durable powers of attorney, healthcare powers of attorney, living wills, HIPAA releases, and more. Iran explains what each document does, why it matters, and the potential consequences families may face when these documents aren't in place. We also discuss when people should create these documents, how often they should be reviewed, whether online or AI-generated documents are sufficient, and the simple first steps anyone can take to get started. One of my biggest takeaways from this conversation is that estate planning isn't really about documents—it's about people. These tools help provide clarity during difficult times and can be one of the greatest gifts you leave for your loved ones. In this episode, you'll learn: • The essential estate planning documents every adult should have • What happens when someone passes away without a will • Why powers of attorney are just as important as wills • The difference between healthcare directives and living wills • How HIPAA releases can help families avoid unnecessary complications • Whether online and AI-generated documents are enough • When to create, review, and update your estate plan • The first step families can take to get started today Whether you're just beginning your estate planning journey or looking to review what you already have in place, this episode provides practical guidance to help protect the people you love.
#41
June 30 · 40 min
Growth with Guardrails: Understanding Buffered ETFs w/ Matt Kaufman, CETF
Episode 041: Many investors ask the same question: Is there a way to participate in the stock market's growth without taking on all of the downside risk? In this episode, I sit down with Matt Kaufman, Senior Vice President and Head of ETFs at Calamos Investments, to explore one of the fastest-growing areas of investing: buffered ETFs. Matt has spent more than two decades in the financial industry and has helped design and build hundreds of investment products. He does a fantastic job breaking down a topic that can sound complex and making it easy to understand. We start with the basics by discussing what ETFs are and why they've become so popular with investors. From there, Matt explains how buffered ETFs work, how they seek to provide downside protection, and what investors give up in exchange for that protection. We also discuss who these strategies may be appropriate for, how they can fit within a portfolio, and some of the common misconceptions investors have about them. Whether you're a seasoned investor or simply looking for ways to navigate today's uncertain markets, this conversation will help you better understand the tradeoffs between risk, reward, and protection. In this episode, you'll learn: • What an ETF is and why they've become so popular • How buffered ETFs seek to limit downside risk • The tradeoffs investors should understand before investing • Who may benefit most from buffered ETF strategies • How buffered ETFs can fit into a broader portfolio • What the future may hold for risk-managed investing If you've ever wondered whether there is a middle ground between being fully invested and sitting on the sidelines, this episode is for you.
#40
June 23 · 46 min
The Ultimate Teammate: Leadership, Sacrifice & Success w/ Gonzaga's Jalen Warley
Episode 040: Success isn't always measured by points scored, shots made, or individual accolades. Some of the most valuable players are the ones who do the little things that help teams win. In this episode, I sit down with Gonzaga guard Jalen Warley to discuss the mindset, habits, and work ethic that have helped him become one of the most versatile players in college basketball. What I've always admired about Jalen is his willingness to do whatever the team needs. Whether it's defending multiple positions, crashing the boards, creating opportunities for teammates, or sacrificing personal statistics for the good of the program, he's built his game around winning. In our conversation, Jalen shares how he approaches defense, what goes into becoming an elite rebounder as a guard, and the mindset required to impact the game in ways that don't always show up in the box score. We also discuss leadership, preparation, and how he developed the versatility to play multiple positions at a high level. As Jalen prepares for the NBA Draft, we dive into his pre-draft workouts, what NBA teams are looking for, and the mental approach required to compete at the highest level of the game. One of my biggest takeaways from this conversation is that success often comes from consistently doing the small things well. The habits, discipline, and sacrifices that nobody sees have a way of compounding into opportunities, trust, and long-term success. In this episode, you'll learn: • How Jalen developed his defensive mindset • What makes a great rebounder, regardless of position • The advantages of being a versatile, positionless player • Why team success often requires individual sacrifice • How Jalen approaches leadership and being a great teammate • What NBA pre-draft workouts are really like • The mindset required to compete at the highest level • How small daily habits compound into long-term success Whether you're an athlete, coach, parent, or simply someone interested in personal growth, this conversation is packed with lessons about discipline, teamwork, leadership, and the power of doing the little things right. Go Zags!
#39
June 16 · 22 min
Part 3: Ray Dalio's Holy Grail of Investing (The Athlete's Guide to Building Wealth)
Episode 039: In Part 3 of The Athlete’s Guide to Investing, I shift the conversation from building wealth to protecting it. Because making money is only part of the equation. Learning how to keep it, manage risk, and build resilient systems matters just as much. In this episode, I break down some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned studying Ray Dalio and diversification, including: • The importance of uncorrelated assets • Why diversification is really about protection and flexibility • How to think about risk and volatility • The difference between liquidity, income, volatility, and expected return • Why every investment involves tradeoffs • How to build a system that can survive uncertainty over time I also share some of my own experiences with real estate, investing, and learning how to think more long term about financial decision making. My goal with this series has never been to overcomplicate investing. It’s to help athletes build simple systems, think long term, and create more freedom and flexibility over time. Because wealth is not built through hype. It’s built through discipline, patience, and consistency. Keep compounding.
#38
June 9 · 25 min
Part 2: Warren Buffett & The Power of Index Funds (The Athlete's Guide to Building Wealth)
Episode 038: In Episode 2 of The Athlete’s Guide to Investing, I talk about one of the biggest mindset shifts that changed the way I think about investing: Stop thinking like a gambler. Start thinking like an owner. After studying Warren Buffett for years, I realized that investing is not about chasing stock tips or trying to predict the next hot company. It’s about understanding businesses, ownership, and long-term value. In this episode, I break down: • Why price and value are not the same thing • How Warren Buffett evaluates investments • The basics of P&L statements and balance sheets • The 4 M’s of investing • Why index funds simplify investing for most people • How athletes can apply discipline and long-term thinking to building wealth I also share some of my own experiences investing in real estate and how those lessons helped me better understand business and investing over time. My goal with this series is to help athletes feel more confident around money and investing — not by overcomplicating things, but by building simple systems and long-term habits. Because investing is not about hype. It’s about ownership. Keep compounding.

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