“Retirement Is a Death Sentence”—Michael J. Frank on Staying Sharp, Giving Back, and Building Again

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Cut The Tie Podcast with Michael J. Frank

What happens after the big exit—when the money’s in the bank but the meaning’s gone? In this candid episode of Cut The Tie, host Thomas Helfrich sits down with veteran trader and investor Michael J. Frank, who went from the floor of the American Stock Exchange to mentoring startups and investing in brain-health innovation.

Michael opens up about the high-intensity world of trading, the cost of ego, the danger of losing purpose after success, and why “retirement” is the worst word in the English language. For executives who’ve made it but feel restless, his story is a wake-up call: you don’t need to stop—you just need to build something that matters.

About Michael J. Frank

Michael J. Frank is a former floor trader and specialist who sold his firm to a public company before turning his attention to mentoring founders and investing in neuro-innovation. As a principal at Innovation Ventures, he focuses on brain-health startups tackling Alzheimer’s, ADHD, autism, and other neurological challenges. Michael also co-founded Gildre, a community connecting entrepreneurs with mentors, tools, and events to help them scale. Based in Millburn, New Jersey, he sits on five advisory boards and still works six or seven days a week—because, as he says, “the glass is always half full.”

In this episode, Thomas and Michael discuss:

Why retirement kills momentum
The hidden cost of walking away from purpose—and how staying engaged keeps your mind alive.Cutting ties with ego and illusion
Michael shares how chasing money and validation nearly cost him everything that mattered.From floor trader to mentor
How he turned decades of market experience into guidance for young founders and innovators.Family over fortune
Why redefining success meant putting family first, cutting toxic people, and finding peace.Building in the age of AI
His take on how artificial intelligence will change business the way electricity and the computer did.

Key Takeaways

Purpose doesn’t retire
You don’t need a paycheck to keep contributing—just curiosity and drive.Ego is the most expensive tie to cut
The need to prove yourself can destroy the very success you’re chasing.Stay in the game
Work, volunteer, mentor—do something that challenges you daily.Surround yourself with the right people
Family and true friends fuel you; negativity drains you.Every day is another trade
Show up ready, stay humble, and learn—wins follow those who keep playing.

Connect with Michael J. Frank

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikejfrank/
📧 Email: michael@gildre.com

Connect with Thomas Helfrich

🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/thelfrich
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cutthetie
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomashelfich
🌐 Website: https://www.cutthetie.com
📧 Email: t@instantlyrelevant.com
🚀 https://www.instantlyrelevant.com

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