Aug 14, 2025
In this episode, host Adam joins Axel Meierhoefer on The Ideal Investor Show to share his journey from aspiring trauma surgeon to founding Libertas Wealth Management Group. Adam opens up about the life-changing injury that redirected his career path, how his father inspired his love for business, and the unique approach he takes to help clients - both business owners and individuals - build and protect wealth across generations.
From the critical differences between a ‘practice’ and a ‘business,’ to why most Americans start planning far too late, this conversation dives deep into the strategies, mindsets, and planning essentials that create lasting financial security.
Episode Timestamps:
01:00 – Adam’s origin story - from Cleveland roots to business
inspiration
03:00 – Early career dreams in trauma surgery and competitive
TaeKwonDo
05:00 – A career-ending injury changes everything
06:00 – The surprising conversation with his father that led to
financial advising
07:00 – Launching Libertas Wealth Management Group and building a
client family
10:00 – Generational wealth and the difference between practices
and scalable businesses
12:00 – Why starting retirement planning at 52 is too late
14:00 – Business exit planning and the power of intangibles
16:00 – Using commercial real estate as a pseudo-pension
20:00 – Social Security realities and the income test
24:00 – Bridging the retirement income gap with multiple income
streams
27:00 – Why many business owners never fully retire
31:00 – The compounding effect of starting early
36:00 – Combining time and leverage to build wealth
39:00 – Overcoming fear of failure with trusted guidance
Key Takeaways:
💡
Your career path can pivot unexpectedly - build adaptable skills
and a strong network.
💡
Start retirement planning well before age 52; time is your most
valuable asset.
💡
Business owners need exit strategies that address both tangible and
intangible value drivers.
💡
Owning your business’s real estate can create a reliable retirement
income stream.
💡
Social Security benefits can be reduced if you earn above certain
thresholds before full retirement age.
💡
Diversify retirement income through a mix of assets, including
investments and real estate.
💡
Leverage both time and other people’s money to accelerate wealth
building.
💡
A trusted advisor can help remove the fear and uncertainty from
financial decisions.
Key Quotes from Adam Koós:
🗣
“I realized trauma surgery wasn’t my path after an injury, so I
found another way to change lives.”
🗣
“You’re not just working in your business; you need to be working
on your business.”
🗣
“Most people start retirement planning at 52. That’s way too
late.”
🗣
“Intangibles often determine your business’s value more than the
numbers.”
🗣
“Owning the building your business operates in can become your
pseudo-pension.”
🗣
“The earlier you start, the more compounding works in your
favor—time beats money.”
Connect with Axel Meierhoefer and The Ideal Investor
Show:
Website:
www.idealwealthgrower.com
Listen to the podcast
Connect with Adam Koós and Libertas Wealth
Management:
🎧
CLICK HERE to subscribe to The Retirement Fiduciary Podcast on
Apple
LinkedIn:
Adam Koós
Website:
Libertas Wealth
Follow Libertas on Social Media:
Facebook:
https://facebook.com/libertaswealth
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/libertas.wealth
Threads:
https://www.threads.com/@libertas.wealth
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/libertas-wealth
Twitter:
https://x.com/LibertasWM
TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@libertaswealthmanagement
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@libertaswealth
About Adam Koós:
Adam Koos, CFP®, CMT® is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and one of
only 2,600+ Chartered Market Technicians (CMT) worldwide, as well
as a Certified Financial Technician (CFTe®) through the
International Federation of Technical Analysts (IFTA). He’s been
named by Columbus Business First as one of their 20 People to Know
in Finance, was a recipient of the Forty Under 40 award, is ranked
by Investopedia as one of America’s top 100 Most Influential
Advisers, and is the winner of the coveted Better Business Bureau
Torch Award for Ethical Enterprising. Adam serves his clients as
the president and portfolio manager at Libertas Wealth Management
Group, Inc., a Fee-Only Registered Investment Advisory (RIA) firm
located in Columbus, Ohio.