Arash Shokouh is the Founder and Managing Principal of Ophtek LLC, a company specializing in cybersecurity, managed IT security and support for small- and medium-sized businesses. With over 18 years of experience in computer technology, his background includes roles at several startups and a tenure at IBM, where he contributed to developing some of…

David Goldman is the Founder of Ruby Peak Recruiting, a firm specializing in direct-hire recruiting for top level executive assistants nationwide. After moving to San Francisco from Colorado in 2001, he began his recruiting career and established Ruby Peak Recruiting in 2008. With over two decades of experience, David has been instrumental in conne…

Ryan Shane is the President of The Housing Guild Management Co., a property management company based in San Francisco that specializes in managing apartments, homes, and commercial spaces throughout the Bay Area. Under his leadership, the company continues the legacy established by his father, Lawrence Shane, who founded The Housing Guild in 1977 w…

Michelle Lerman is an attorney specializing in estate planning, real estate law, and business law, with a focus on serving high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, business owners, and real estate investors. Michelle and her husband co-founded Lerman Law Partners, LLP, and joined forces with Cunningham Legal to enhance their collective …

Amit grew up in a family of real estate professionals, and early on, he saw how smart investing has helped people generate wealth and help them to live the way they dreamed. Now, as a real estate professional with Fortitude Investment Group, Amit helps rental property owners and investors navigate 1031 exchanges, Delaware Statutory Trusts (DSTs), a…

Becky Barton is the CEO of People415, a human resources consulting firm that helps growing businesses grow faster with streamlined workflow policies, talent management, and HR compliance. With over 20 years of experience in HR strategy and operations, she specializes in aligning workforce planning with business goals. She has worked with companies …

David Cranfield is the Brokerage Director at Pinney Insurance, a full-service BGA. Pinney's services help financial advisors, planners, and insurance agents expand their knowledge on insurance products and source solutions for their clients. Some of David’s areas of focus include annuities, life and disability income insurance in business planning,…

Becky Brown and Morgan Holmes are the Founders of Stride, a comprehensive tax planning, bookkeeping, and accounting firm that helps companies accelerate growth. With a combined background in bookkeeping and taxation, Morgan and Becky joined forces to help MSPs, digital agencies, and professional services achieve their business goals through better …

Rachel Dodson is the Principal at Ayoub & Dodson LLP, a law firm in Oakland, California, specializing in estate planning, trust administration, and probate law. A certified specialist in estate planning by the California State Bar, she has over a decade of experience guiding families with young children and individuals with non-taxable estates to c…

David Saxe is a Co-founder and Managing Principal at Calvera Partners, a real estate investment firm that finds, acquires, and optimizes multifamily properties in high-growth markets. Under his leadership, Calvera Partners has successfully grown from investing in seven-unit buildings to acquiring 300 unit apartment complexes in different markets. D…

Doug Bend is the Founder of Bend Law Group, PC, a boutique law firm based in San Francisco that advises startups, entrepreneurs, and small business owners on entity formation, entity maintenance and ongoing legal requirements. Providing tailored guidance, Doug’s team is integral in forming over 50 new entities each year. With years of experience he…

Bradley Solomon is an Independent Educational Consultant at Solomon College Advising, a San Francisco-based counseling service dedicated to guiding students and families through the college admissions process. Students work closely with Bradley on pre-college planning, including developing a college list, editing college essays, and completing appl…

Matt Strain is the Founder and Principal at The-Prompt.ai, a consultancy dedicated to helping businesses adopt and integrate AI tools to enhance productivity and drive innovation. With a strong background in technology, leadership, AI and a knack for making complex technology accessible, Matt works with companies across industries to adopt AI and c…

James (Jay) O'Neil is the CEO of CTASafe, a compliance technology and consulting company focused on helping small and closely held businesses meet the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) reporting requirements. With a background in law, Jay combines legal expertise with practical solutions for businesses facing new regulatory obligations. His experien…

Andy Cahill is a Leadership Development Consultant and an Associate Partner at KONU, an international boutique consultancy for leadership development and change management. As a transformative coach, he works with purpose-driven leaders and entrepreneurs to help them make a positive difference in the world. He is also the author of the critically a…

Michael Koehler is the Founder and CEO of KONU, an international boutique consultancy for leadership development and change management. Michael also teaches leadership as an Adjunct Lecturer at Harvard Graduate School of Education and hosts the On The Balcony podcast, where he inspires change agents, executives, and others passionate about personal…

Laura Renner is the Founder and Managing Director of Freedom Makers, a virtual assistant agency supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs with admin support. Freedom Makers pairs companies with qualified, versatile, and experienced military spouses. Laura, a former Public Affairs Officer for the US Air Force, is passionate about connecting tale…

Crystal Shanks is the CEO and Certified Business Coach at Run Right Business Consulting, where business and executive coaches help entrepreneurs and executives thrive through professional and personal development. Run Right’s coaching program is uniquely personalized for each person and focuses on core needs, including marketing, sales, operations,…

Brad Stroh is the Co-founder and Co-CEO of Achieve, a digital personal finance company helping people plan for their future. Formerly known as Freedom Financial, Achieve offers innovative customized financial solutions including financial education, home equity loans, personal loans, and debt resolution. In this episode… Inflation makes it difficul…

Patricia De Fonte is the Founder and Owner of De Fonte Law PC, an estate planning firm based out of San Francisco, California. Through her relationship-based approach, Patricia works with clients to create highly personalized value-based estate plans tailored to protect and provide for their loved ones. She is an Estate Planning Attorney highly reg…

Shawn Flynn is a Principal at Global Capital Markets, a middle-market investment bank with expertise in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, financial restructuring, and valuation. As an investment banker, Shawn advises business owners on decisions involving M&A transactions and raising growth capital. He also hosts The Silicon Valley Podcast…

Roman Polnar is the Founder and Managing Partner of Pillar6 Advisors, a multifaceted financial planning and wealth management firm geared toward serving successful individuals and families with active lifestyles. Roman is also a Partner at Pillar6 College Planning, where he helps families unlock debt-free money from the financial aid system so they…

Roman Polnar is the Founder and Managing Partner of Pillar6 Advisors, a multifaceted financial planning and wealth management firm geared toward serving successful individuals and families with active lifestyles. Roman is also a Partner at Pillar6 College Planning, where he helps families unlock debt-free money from the financial aid system so they…

Samantha Grant is the Founder of GUSH Productions, an award-winning media production company based out of San Francisco. She is a journalist, Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker, and educator who has produced films that range from polished traditional broadcast pieces to edgy and innovative online-only content. Samantha has over 20 years of experi…

Jim Amerman is a Managing Director at Foundation Source, the nation's leading provider of customized support services and technology for private foundations. Before joining the company, Jim was the Managing Director of Wealth Planning at Fortress Wealth Management and Director of Financial Planning at Westmount Asset Management. He is an expert on …

Andy Block is a Senior Loan Advisor and Personal Finance Advisor at Flagstar Bank where he helps individuals and families make wise decisions about their personal finances. His background combines mortgage banking and wealth management, allowing him to advise clients on how to make effective financial decisions that support their lifestyle and plan…

Dr. Mark Salisbury is the Co-founder and CEO of TuitionFit, a company whose mission is to aid students in finding college options that are affordable and accessible. An enthusiastic champion of college price transparency, Dr. Salisbury received his PhD in educational policy from the University of Iowa and has spent more than 25 years in academia. H…

Aaron Klein is the Co-founder and CEO of Riskalyze, a behavioral finance tool. Riskalyze is known for inventing the Risk Number, which powers the world's first Risk Alignment Platform. Their mission is to help financial advisers and individuals evaluate their investments and build better portfolios. It was built on an academic framework that won th…

Roman Polnar is the Founder and Managing Partner of Pillar6 Advisors, a multifaceted financial planning and wealth management firm geared toward serving successful individuals and families with active lifestyles. Roman is also a Partner at Pillar6 College Planning, where he helps families unlock debt-free money from the financial aid system so they…

Andrew Bernstein is a Senior Official NBA Photographer starting his 42nd season. He is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the second photographer to have ever been honored by the Hall of Fame. He has photographed the LA Lakers, LA Kings, LA Clippers, and the LA Dodgers, and he has been published in virtually every major s…

Dr. Ben Bernstein is a licensed clinical psychologist who trains people in high-stress occupations to manage their stress and stay in the zone. His keynote presentations and workshops are not only engaging, but useful for learning how to apply stress management principles. He is also the author of Stress Free, Crush Your Test Anxiety, A Teen’s Guid…

Roman Polnar is the Founder and Managing Partner of Pillar6 Advisors, a multifaceted financial planning and wealth management firm geared toward serving successful individuals and families with active lifestyles. Roman is also a Partner at Pillar6 College Planning, where he helps families unlock debt-free money from the financial aid system so they…

Eric Dunn is the CEO of Quicken, makers of the best-selling personal finance software in the US. Under his leadership, the company successfully spun off from Intuit and modernized its product suite — leading to significant growth and attracting a major investment from Aquiline Capital Partners in 2021. Today, Quicken provides more than two million …

Brian Gemmer is a Principal and Portfolio Manager at Gemmer Asset Management, which is a registered investment advisor with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The company provides investment management and back-office support to independent investment advisory firms and professionals. Prior to that, Brian was a Partner and Portfolio Mana…

Nancy Paul is the Founder of The Institute for Financial Literacy in College Planning, a collaborative education center and think tank dedicated to boldly leading at the intersection of financial literacy, higher education, teen empowerment, and financial wellness. Nancy found over $600,000 in merit scholarships for her three daughters and turned t…

Lael Sturm is the Founder and Managing Director at LPSS Digital Marketing, a full-service marketing and strategy agency. He has worked with well-known companies, including MTV, Microsoft, Bloomberg, and Virgin Airways. He also works with startups and professional services firms, including solopreneurs and professionals who want to reach more ideal …

Charlotte Smith is a former lawyer turned Executive Life Design Coach. She works with leaders across the Bay Area, the UK, and internationally to design lives that work. She knows that success, happiness, and fulfillment are not out of reach, even in uncertain times, especially when you have the right tools and mindset. In this episode… What does i…

Justin Miller is a Partner and the National Director of Wealth Planning at Evercore Wealth Management and the Managing Director at Evercore Trust Company. He works with accountants, attorneys, and other advisors to provide comprehensive wealth planning advice to clients. He is a highly respected, knowledgeable, and passionate tax attorney and an Ac…

Jen Grondahl Lee is a Debt and Credit Strategy Attorney at Jen Lee Law, Inc. She helps her clients handle debt and credit issues and advises them on credit card loans, student loans, past-due taxes, identity theft, credit report problems, and other matters related to debt and credit. Jen has been featured in ConsumerAffairs, US News & World Report,…

Yuliya Magomedov is the Founder and Lead Attorney at Magomedov Law Group, a firm that provides estate planning services as well as other legal advice. Yuliya guides her clients through the often-complicated estate planning process and also offers continuous guidance if it becomes necessary. She can practice law in the State of California, the Unite…