Transcript for Hustle & Heat Episode 3
00:00:04
What’s up, guys? This is George from Dubz BBQ, and welcome to Episode 3 of the Hustle and Heat podcast — where we bring the community together, one business owner and one public official at a time. In today’s episode, I’d like to welcome an Army veteran, the owner of Ideal Retirement Solutions, a man of faith, and the husband of Vanessa, Mr. Jeffrey Tamas.
Well, that was some intro. Excited to be here — ready to talk food, entrepreneurship, and what’s going on in the city.
00:00:37
So tell us exactly what you do at Ideal Retirement Solutions. A lot? Let’s break it down.
As CEO, Corey and I (my co-founder) have been in business a little over seven years. When you first start a business, you’re doing everything — janitor, ordering, navigating — all of it.
As we’ve grown, we’re now at 10 staff members and manage close to $200 million for people locally in Southwest Florida, with offices throughout the region. I oversee staff, plan portfolios, develop tax strategies, and help minimize what people give to the IRS.
00:01:37
How do people feel comfortable enough to trust you with that kind of money? A few things.
First, all of our advisers are licensed fiduciaries, which is a higher standard than a typical financial adviser. A standard adviser has to do what’s suitable or legal; a fiduciary must do what’s in your best interest.
Second, our Google reviews are consistently five stars because we aim to serve people at a high level.
And we’re aligned — if someone comes in with a million dollars saved for retirement, the goal is to grow that. When the client wins, we win. It’s a relationship where the value has to keep showing up — because either side can leave at any time.
00:02:55
What’s the goal at year 10? There’s always a number, but that number keeps moving forward. We’re never satisfied with the status quo. We’re constantly improving language, processes, and investment strategies — including alternatives beyond the standard stock market.
There’s also growth planned: expanding offices, adding staff, and adding estate planning starting in January — wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare surrogates — things most people don’t have in place until they need them. Tax planning and tax preparation are also being added, because integrating these services helps improve outcomes.
00:04:24
Is there a limit to how many services you add? We don’t try to be everything to everyone, but the problem we see is that clients often have an investment adviser in one place and a CPA somewhere else — and the client becomes the middleman. Like the old telephone game, the message changes as it gets passed along.
If strategic tax planning is in-house and married to the investment strategy, outcomes improve. The “stickier” the business becomes — like barbecue sauce, no pun intended — the longer people stay, because they’re getting real value.
00:05:58
A book was published about four months ago: The Ideal Retirement Advantage. New clients get it, and it explains the process, expectations, and how hedges are used during market downturns. Most people served are close to retirement or already retired, and their biggest fear is running out of money — so the focus is building reliable, sustainable monthly cash flow.
00:07:00
How stressful is that? Not really. Emotions can’t drive decisions. If you make an emotionally charged decision today, there’s a good chance you’ll feel different tomorrow. You can’t change the trajectory of your life based on chemical reactions.
That was a weakness early on — emotions got the best of things sometimes. Over time, the lesson became: step back, stay quiet, think, then address it later with a clear mind. A major challenge in leadership is helping a team stop making emotional decisions that hurt the business. It’s not about ego — it’s about what’s best for the business, clients, and employees.
00:09:22
Faith also shapes leadership. Proverbs says, “A fool shows his annoyance at once,” and that’s a reminder to stay grounded. People have a right to their opinion, but that doesn’t mean anyone has a right to yours. Suggestions from staff are welcome — it doesn’t mean every idea gets implemented.
Thinking ahead matters. What happens today affects tomorrow, next month, and next quarter. That mindset keeps decision-making steady.
00:12:20
2025 was a big “slingshot year.” A standalone 5,000-square-foot building was purchased and remodeled, the book launched, and multiple expansions happened. Production increased, but the bigger win was positioning for growth.
That same “slingshot” concept showed up on the restaurant side too — hiring management, raising payroll, even going some months without paying yourself so the business can become what it’s meant to be. Dubz isn’t just a restaurant — it’s a brand. The podcast is part of building a platform where people can share their success stories and philosophies, and where the community can learn from each other.
00:14:44
Something surprising in business: the people you expect to support you most sometimes don’t, and the people you least expect often show up the biggest. But the work continues — show up daily, pray, and do the best you can.
A key mindset is controlling activity. Take care of the day, and the day takes care of the week; the week takes care of the month; the month takes care of the quarter; the quarter takes care of the year. Vision matters, but staying present in the day is what makes it real — and hiring the right people frees the mental space to do both.
00:16:40
Technology helps modern businesses grow faster — numbers don’t lie. Some people stay stuck in old-school grind with no plan for retirement, and it’s tough to watch. The goal is to motivate the next generation to build smarter and earlier.
The growth story here started young — at 23 — and expanded over time: increasing seating from 24 to 130, adding a full-service bar, and moving from counter service to a full-service experience. Cooking, though, stayed at the core — it’s peace, it’s therapy. Prep is love; the line is pressure, but it forces focus. Staying calm is the secret to producing a clean, fast product under stress.
00:21:07
The restaurant industry also comes with a hard reality: addiction. It’s painful because some of the most talented people carry something that holds them back. Helping is possible — conversations, support, guidance — but the decision has to be theirs. You can’t choose recovery for someone, and forcing it often creates resentment.
00:23:19
Why barbecue? Because it was what was known at the time. Years were spent learning the business with family, and after multiple attempts to open a second location fell through, the push came to do it independently. It was scary — but there’s never been regret.
Barbecue is only part of the passion, and it probably won’t be the only restaurant venture long-term. A Middle Eastern concept is a dream — the only hesitation is whether the area would support it often enough.
00:26:46
Arabic food runs deep — Tampa trips for shawarma and traditional dishes, family roots tied to Jordan, and a culture where food and fire-cooking are everything. There’s flavor, tradition, and connection in every bite. Travel becomes food-driven too — places like New York Chinatown for soup dumplings, or Miami for hole-in-the-wall Middle Eastern spots.
Food brings people together across backgrounds. Food is love on a plate.
00:34:33
There’s a clear difference between food made with love and food made to scale. Some chains feel like the “fast food” version of their cuisine — bags, heat-and-serve, salt and shortcuts. People often choose cheaper options without realizing how it affects their health. Sometimes it’s ignorance — not knowing better — but once you do know better, you’re responsible for the choices.
00:36:02
Favorite meat? Lamb. A lot of people fear lamb because they’ve had it cooked wrong, but when it’s done right, it’s incredible — clean, rich, and flavorful.
That opens the door to an idea: adding a Middle Eastern-inspired special to the menu — like a brisket shawarma-style sandwich — and doing samples to test it. A taste-test video could be a fun way to introduce it, too.
00:40:40
Is there a minimum investment amount to become a client? There used to be a hard minimum, but now it’s more practical: it has to make sense for both sides. An initial meeting still happens to review everything — wills, trusts, powers of attorney, beneficiaries, taxes, and investments — and then guidance is given. If it’s not a fit, friendly advice is shared and a future follow-up is welcomed.
Estate planning is a major focus because none of us are getting out of this life alive. Healthcare surrogates matter, life insurance matters, and planning matters — especially for family. Money won’t replace a person, but it buys time. Money is a tool.
00:42:58
Money becomes dangerous when it becomes an idol — when people value it more than people. That’s where morals can slip as wealth grows. The reminder is priorities: faith, marriage, family, then business. Integrity and a person’s word matter most.
A powerful question changes perspective: what if you woke up only having what you gave thanks for the night before? Gratitude and anger can’t coexist — you choose what to focus on.
00:46:19
It’s been an honor having this conversation. There’s a lot to respect in building something with discipline, faith, and vision — and there’s excitement around doing a taste test one day and getting out on the golf course.
For everyone watching: like, comment, and subscribe. And if you want to see an Arabic dish on the Dubz menu, drop what dish you’d like to see — with a barbecue infusion.
