Jeff Hinkle

Jeff Hinkle is a Partner at NKSFB, one of America's largest business management firms, where he specializes in managing the financial affairs of touring musicians and entertainment industry professionals. Based in Los Angeles at the firm formerly known as Gudvi, Sussman & Oppenheim, Hinkle has built a career focused on the unique financial challenges faced by recording and touring artists.

Early Life and Education

Born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee—Music City, USA—Hinkle grew up immersed in music culture and is himself a musician. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee. This background in both music and finance would prove instrumental in shaping his career path.

Career Development

Hinkle began his accounting career at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in Nashville before relocating to San Diego, where he developed expertise in real estate taxation while working at KPMG. However, his interest in music and the business of music led him to Los Angeles, where he joined a business management firm in 1995.

Eventually joining what became NKSFB (part of the Gudvi, Sussman & Oppenheim merger into the larger firm), Hinkle found his niche working with artists who spend much of their time on the road. NKSFB was founded in 1981 by Fred Nigro, Michael Karlin, and Mickey Segal, starting with just three clients: David Letterman, Van Halen, and Joan Rivers. Today, the firm is the largest business management firm in the country with more than 600 employees across seven offices, representing major entertainment names including Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake, Post Malone, and Kenya Barris.

Specialization and Services

Hinkle's focus is business management, and he specializes in:

• Touring (both domestic and international)
• Tax planning for recording and touring artists
• Asset acquisition and financing
• Insurance planning with insurance professionals
• Royalty review and accounting

Hinkle emphasizes the importance of long-term financial planning for his clients, noting that one of the first things his firm does, especially for younger clients, is to set up a pension plan and start saving for their retirement.

Client Management Philosophy

Hinkle identifies communication with clients about their money as one of the most challenging parts of his job:

"Most artists would rather think about mixing their new album or an upcoming tour than their finances. That's why we make it a point to have regular financial meetings with all of our clients."

Since most of his clients are touring artists, finding the time and place to meet can be difficult. Hinkle notes:

"Several times a year, we will get on an airplane and fly out to meet with a client who is on tour. I've had plenty of business meetings on tour buses and backstage in dressing rooms. Sometimes that's the only way to get in front of the client."

This dedication to accessibility reflects the unique demands of managing finances for artists whose careers keep them constantly on the move.

Services and Expertise

Business managers like Hinkle provide comprehensive financial services to their entertainment industry clients. Hinkle notes that insurance is a very important responsibility for business managers:

"If their clients are sued and don't have adequate coverage, or the right kind of coverage, or have no coverage at all, it can lead to substantial losses and even bankruptcy."

Beyond basic accounting and bill paying, business managers also monitor royalties from record, merchandising, and publishing deals and ensure clients are paid appropriately when these monies are due. Hinkle's firm employs royalty-examination departments that understand the detailed aspects of royalty earnings.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Monthly financial statements categorized by expense type (recording expenses, housing expenses, business expenses)
• Tax planning and preparation
• Investment oversight with professional money managers
• Insurance coverage review and management
• Royalty audits and collection
• Estate planning coordination
• Cash flow projections
• Major purchase consultation

Professional Life and Education

Hinkle is a member of:

• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
• California Society of Certified Public Accountants

Beyond his client work, Hinkle has taught accounting at San Diego Mesa College and music business classes at UCLA Extension in Westwood, sharing his expertise with the next generation of business managers and artists.

Hinkle and his wife Elisa live in Woodland Hills, California.

Industry Context

The business management industry has undergone significant consolidation in recent years. In 2011, NKSFB merged with Gudvi Oppenheim (formed in 1977 as Bernard Gudvi & Co.), greatly expanding the firm's music client scope. In 2018, the firm was acquired by Focus Financial Partners (NASDAQ: FOCS), with the firm having grown to include 30 partners and 300 staff at the time of acquisition.

Business managers like Hinkle occupy a unique position in the entertainment industry, serving as the financial backbone for artists who may earn millions but often lack the time or expertise to manage their wealth effectively. The role requires not just accounting expertise but also an understanding of the entertainment business, tax law, insurance, real estate, and investment management—combined with the interpersonal skills to work with creative personalities often more focused on their art than their finances.

Notable Career Anecdotes

Hinkle has shared stories that illustrate the personalized service business managers provide. He remembers one instance in which a client wanted a particular Mercedes model that was especially hard to find. An automobile broker located the car, down to the exact specifications, in Texas and delivered it to Hinkle's client in California in a few short days—demonstrating the concierge-level service that top business managers provide beyond traditional financial management.

Industry Recognition

While Hinkle himself maintains a relatively low profile, NKSFB partners have consistently been recognized as top business managers in the entertainment industry by The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, and Billboard. The firm's reputation is built on over four decades of experience managing the financial affairs of entertainment's biggest names.

Sources

1. NKSFB Official Website - Jeff Hinkle Partner Profile
2. Music Connection Magazine - "Business Managers: Bills and Investments" (July 25, 2022)
3. The Hollywood Reporter - "Top Business Managers 2025" (October 25, 2025)
4. NKSFB - "Our Path to Success: Discover the History of NKSFB, LLC" (April 1, 2025)
5. The Hollywood Reporter - "Hollywood Merger-Mania Hits Business Management" (October 18, 2019)
6. NKSFB - "Reflecting on 40 Years of Building Our Company" (November 1, 2021)
7. The Hollywood Reporter - "Hollywood's Top Business Managers of 2021" (November 10, 2021)
8. Variety - "Business Managers Elite 2019" (November 14, 2019)