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Smells Like Money
This is the first post on Smells Like Money. A financial blog for people who've spent their careers in manufacturing and construction. Before we get into the numbers, I wanted to start with why.
I fell in love with the industry the first time I stepped foot in a paper mill. The speed at which things happened, the people who supported it, and the impact of the products I would make, it hooked me. I was 22 when I first walked into a mill in Prattville, AL. It was the fall of my senior year, and it changed my life forever.
Six months later, on June 1, 2010, I walked into the paper mill in Selma, AL. Two machines running 2,700 fpm and 3,600 fpm. Those eight years in Selma taught me more than my previous 22 did. From troubleshooting equipment, to using channel locks or putting dryer felts on in the middle of the night. It was a 24-hour, 365-day operation that demanded dedication and commitment. It was a commitment 700+ employees had made, and one I was just starting to understand.
As the years went by, I realized the people at the mill were some of the smartest people I would ever know. They may not have been "smart" in the traditional sense, but they could troubleshoot with the best of them, make things run when they shouldn't, and tell something was wrong just by listening. They amazed me every day with their attitude, their willingness to help, and their commitment to the mill.
Over the years, I gained a deep respect for anyone willing to work in a 115-degree building, work rotating shift schedules, and put their body through hell nearly every day. It was impressive and something I never would have fully appreciated had I not walked into that mill at 22. After eight years and eight different roles, I left the Selma mill in search of a place better suited to the life I wanted to live. From there, on to Stevenson, AL, where I learned Selma's employees weren't a one-off. Paper mill workers are just built different, in the best possible way.
The next four years solidified my love for the people, but not so much the life. I was looking to start a family, and my 6:30 am arrivals and 5:30 pm departures weren't conducive to being the dad I always wanted to be. I never felt like I could balance the demands of the mill with the demands of being a father. I had already written off being a coach, being at every game, helping with homework. I had to choose, and it was the hardest decision of my life.
I remember the day like it was yesterday: May 31, 2022, the last day I walked out of the mill as a papermaker. I hung my hardhat on the fence post with a host of emotions. I was overwhelmed with fear, excitement, and anxiety, to name a few. Twelve years in the industry, the knowledge I'd gained, gone in an instant. I was leaving the only life I'd known to enter one I didn't fully understand.
Over the next few months, I struggled. I missed the guys at the mill. I missed the BS we used to give each other in the control room, or solving whatever problem we were wrestling with that day. I missed the rush of walking in, the heat off the dryers, the smell of wood turning into pulp. It was gone in an instant. I wanted that feeling back so I kept asking myself the question, “how do I get the mill feeling back without being in the mill?”
I threw myself into a new career in financial services, and into being the parent I'd always promised myself I'd be. The days, weeks, months, and years went by, and I was still searching for that connection I'd lost. The mill had meant so much to me, and I wanted it back. Not the floor itself, but the sense of purpose and belonging that came with it.
At the beginning of this year, I found it. I started a transition that will shape my life and career going forward. A shift in direction, focused on the people I cherish most in this world. That direction is serving the people dedicated to building the world around us. Whether it's a physical building or a product that shows up at your doorstep, these are the people who deserve someone who understands them.
It's a win-win. I get to immerse myself in the lives of the people I care about most, and they get someone who understands the pain and the pride of mill life. A person who speaks their language and can turn financial jargon into mill talk.
Today, I want to introduce Smells Like Money, a financial blog that relates common money topics to paper mill ideas. From machine speed to reliability, there's a financial concept hiding in all of it.
If you've spent your career in a mill and you're trying to make sense your pension, an old 401(k), the best way to save or what retirement even looks like after this life, follow along. Learn as you go and when you are ready, Id love the opportunity to help you make the next step in your wealth building journey.
Smells Like Money: What Changing Felts Taught Me About Traditional vs. Roth 401(k)s
Shut down now or run slower longer? After 12 years on a paper machine, I learned that same timing question applies to choosing a Traditional vs. Roth 401(k). Here's how to make the right call.
Read MoreSmells Like Money: What Happens to My Pension When the Mill Changes Hands?
Mill sold, merged, or spun off? The pension you've already earned is protected by law. Future benefits may change, but what you've built rarely disappears. Here's what to expect and what to ask.
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Smells Like Money: Mill Decisions and Social Security
A shoe press dilemma: fix now or wait for more data. A lesson you can use for Social Security too. You'll never have perfect certainty. Build a resilient plan, not a perfect prediction, and adjust as life changes
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Smells Like Money: Preparing for Catastrophic Failure
A mill taught me why every critical system needs a spare part on the shelf. Term life insurance works the same way: it won't stop the unexpected, but it protects your family from a financial cascade if it happens. Preparation is the plan.
Read MoreSmells Like Money: Furnish and Investment Mix
Furnishing your portfolio is like blending paper fiber: stocks, bonds, and cash each bring different strengths. No single ingredient works alone. The right mix depends on your goals, timeline, and comfort with risk. Let's review your blend
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Smells Like Money: Lump Sum or Lifetime Income
Pension lump sum or lifetime income? Using lessons from high-stakes mill decisions, this post breaks down the risks, tax rules, and fine print of each option, and why the right choice depends on your goals, not just the math.
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Smells Like Money: Rounds at the Mill and in Life
A paper mill taught me that consistency isn't enough. Operators made their rounds, just not on the right things. Your finances work the same way: automate the savings, then make sure you're inspecting what actually matters.
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