#16 - How to Build a Sustainable CFO Practice (Without a Full-Time Job) - with Tom Schultz

In this episode of The Valisights Podcast, host Albert Ramos sits down with Tom Schultz, seasoned CFO with 25+ years of experience — including 18 years as a fractional CFO serving 48 companies across industries. Tom is also the author of So You Want to be a Fractional CFO and the founder of the Fractional CFO Success Community, where he’s helping scale the industry from 10,000 to 50,000 professionals over the next 5 years.Tom’s career blends deep corporate finance expertise with a passion for mentoring the next generation of fractional leaders. He’s built long-term client relationships that last a decade or more — and has seen firsthand what separates successful CFOs from those who burn out.In this episode, they cover:The biggest mistakes most new fractionals makeHow to price with confidence and build client trustFrameworks for winning your first clientWhat it takes to keep clients for 10+ yearsHow AI and platforms like Valisights are shaping the next waveIf you’re a finance leader, consultant, or founder exploring the fractional CFO path — this conversation will reset how you think about scaling, retention, and the future of the profession.Want to be on the show or learn more about Albert Ramos? Book a call with him ⁠here⁠→ Book a free Valisights demo at ⁠Valisights.com⁠ to see how AI-powered tools like CashIQ and TrendSights help CFOs and FP&A teams turn data chaos into strategy.→ Follow Albert on LinkedIn and visit ⁠www.StrategoIntel.com⁠About the Host — Albert RamosAlbert Ramos is the Founder of Stratego Intel Consulting, a boutique Fractional CFO firm built for fitness, wellness, hospitality, and longevity brands. Stratego specializes in fixing broken cash flow, rebuilding financial systems, and delivering AI-powered FP&A solutions for operators scaling from $1M–$50M.Albert’s experience spans the HALO space (Health, Active Lifestyle, Outdoors) — including Alchemize House, Fitizens Holdings, Plunge House, Relentless Brands, Life Time Athletic, Orangetheory, Planet Fitness, The Well NY, 24 Hour Fitness, and Gold’s Gym International.Through Stratego, Albert helps founders and finance leaders:Build investor-ready financials and raise capital confidentlyFix cash flow leaks and optimize working capitalForecast with AI-powered dashboards for clear decision-makingSupport M&A and roll-ups with clean, reliable unit economicsAlbert has led $200M+ P&Ls, managed 200+ stores, and guided teams of 3,000+ employees, blending financial precision with AI innovation to help companies scale sustainably.