Reflections from Mike Hengehold, CEO
I can remember my “ah-ha” moment to start a fee-only financial consulting firm that could help regular people overcome obstacles and build financial independence for their families like it was yesterday. I was workin`g as a tax accountant in a large national CPA firm, grinding away on my adding machine at night, trying to figure out how much a client needed to save. I was using two thirteen column sheets of paper taped together, not a computer, as this was in the eighties. My life-changing revelation was recognizing the three phases of accumulation and how compounding cash flows, not assets, impacts financial independence.
In those days, high-commission stock trades were the norm. Brokers and investment bankers had “squawk box” intercoms on their desks used to communicate stock deals and sales priorities. Mutual funds typically carried upfront loads of 7% and then continued to charge a variety of fees to shareholders on an ongoing basis.
In my opinion, clients of the big brokerage firms and fund companies were being treated unfairly. The financial system “supporting them” could not thrive by helping people build wealth in what I considered the correct way: using low-cost accumulation strategies designed to grow wealth over time and generate predictable compounding cashflows.
As a lifetime tax-guy, I was easily able to appreciate three things stockbrokers and insurance salespeople did not: 1) the importance of minimizing lifetime tax burdens by carefully planning what type of investments would provide tax advantages, 2) where to hold them based on the tax treatment of different tax environments, and 3) how and when to recognize income when marginal rates are relatively low, all while not losing sight of the time value of those tax dollars.
All that drove this entrepreneurial young man to start teaching the key points of my financial gospel to anyone who would listen, preaching the virtues of an asset base that produces income that is in cash, dependable, diversified, and grows faster than inflation.
Fast forward thirty-five years. HCM Wealth Advisors & CPAs today provides financial independence counsel based on these principles to more than 750 families nationwide and manages more than $1,000,000,000.
Thoughts from Jake Butcher, President
As we celebrate our 35th anniversary, I find myself reflecting not only on how far we’ve come—but how far we can go.
The principles that sparked HCM’s founding in 1990 remain the foundation of everything we do today: transparent advice, client-first planning, low-cost investing, and a tax-savvy approach to long-term financial independence. What started as Mike’s mission has grown into a multi-generational team of professionals who feel a deep responsibility to guide our clients through life’s transitions — retirement, family changes, legacy planning, business exits, and beyond. The trust clients have placed in us has been instrumental in our long-term success. We thrive on the opportunity to walk alongside our clients as they achieve the very goals we helped them envision years earlier.
Looking forward, the financial landscape will continue to evolve — new technologies, changing tax laws, uncertain markets, longer retirements, and shifting family dynamics. At HCM, we see these changes as opportunities, and we’re dedicated to helping you navigate them. We’re investing in employees and technology to expand our capabilities and constantly improving the tools and processes we use to serve you. Our goal remains simple but powerful: to help you live the life you want, with clarity and confidence. Whether you’re building your career, preparing to retire, or planning a legacy for the next generation, we’re honored to be your trusted advisor—and we’re just getting started. Over the next 35 years, our commitment is to remain independent, forward-thinking, and relentlessly client-focused.
Thank you for being part of our journey. Your trust, partnership, and loyalty have made these first 35 years possible. We’re excited for what’s ahead—and we’re grateful to walk that path with you.