Running a business often means wearing dozens of hats—owner, salesperson, HR manager, and, inevitably, the one in charge of finances. For many entrepreneurs (and even experienced business leaders), taking true ownership of their company’s financial strategy remains a challenge. In a recent episode of The Ownership Advantage, host Tanner sat down with Zachary Thomas, founder of Growth Horizons Wealth Management, to unpack the essentials of forward-thinking financial leadership and why bridging industry gaps is key to unlocking greater success—both in business and in life.
Strategic Financial Leadership: More Than Just Numbers
Zachary Thomas brings a holistic definition to “strategic financial leadership.” At its core, it's about helping business owners graduate from survival mode—the hustle that gets a company off the ground—to a sustainable, scalable operation. Thomas notes that the skills that propel an entrepreneur to the first million aren't the same ones required to get to ten million.
What stands out in his approach? Delegation and automation. Far too often, he says, business owners hang onto tasks—like late-night bookkeeping—that could easily be handed off. True leadership comes from empowering others, surrounding yourself with subject matter experts, and building a team to handle the technical and repetitive, so you can focus on vision and growth.
Bridging the Gap Between Financial Advice and Accounting
One of the unique advantages Thomas brings is his dual fluency in both financial advising and accounting. Traditional financial advisors focus almost solely on investments and wealth management, usually for already wealthy clients. Accountants, on the other hand, are expert historians—analyzing what has already happened.
But what about the millions of business owners and families who need a bridge between these perspectives? Thomas’ firm acts as that bridge, integrating proactive wealth management with the forward-thinking mindset of a CFO. He translates broad financial goals into practical, tactical strategies for business growth—and, crucially, connects these business outcomes to the owner’s personal life aspirations.
Vision Beyond Business: Building a Life with Intention
A key takeaway from Thomas’ experience is that, for many entrepreneurs, business performance is deeply intertwined with personal identity and life satisfaction. He shared stories of clients on both ends of the ambition spectrum—from a contractor ready to step back and sail the world, to another eager to parlay business profits into real estate development and expansion.
No matter the goal, Thomas urges business owners to ask: What are you building towards? Financial strategy, when done well, supports not just more zeroes in a bank account, but the kind of life you want to lead. Sometimes, the first step is simply giving yourself permission to dream bigger.
Cash Flow: The Blind Spot That Can Make or Break You
Thomas is clear: the number one financial blind spot he sees in small business owners is cash flow management. Knowing your profitability isn’t enough—you need to monitor actual cash in and cash out, anticipate pinch points, and avoid the trap of double-counting available funds (especially with tax liabilities looming). He recommends frequent cash flow forecasting tailored to your business’s stage: weekly or daily for startups, aligning with tax planning for more mature companies.
The Power and Pitfalls of Delegation and Collaboration
Effective business owners delegate. Thomas likens this to hiring help at home—most entrepreneurs don’t mow their own lawns or do all house chores. Yet, when it comes to business finances, they struggle to let go. He encourages owners to lean into collaboration, recognizing that assembling the right team (CPAs, attorneys, fractional CFOs) not only unlocks capacity, but also brings in expertise to spot and mitigate risks you might never see alone.
Preparing for the Future: Learning, Storytelling, and Technology
To stay at the top of his game, Thomas invests in both technical learning—pursuing professional certifications—and unexpected sources, like fiction and mythology, which he finds brimming with business and life lessons. On technology, he remains cautiously optimistic about AI, leveraging it for efficiency, but mindful of the new risks (like fraud) it brings—especially for vulnerable clients.
Conclusion
Strategic financial leadership isn’t just about optimizing profit margins or cutting expenses. It’s about crafting a foundation so solid that both business and personal dreams become possible. As Zachary Thomas illustrates, bridging gaps, planning ahead, embracing collaboration, and never losing sight of the life you want to build—not just the business—are the keys to true financial ownership.
Check out the full episode on YouTube HERE
Listen to the full episode on Apple Podcasts HERE