John Corcoran is a recovering attorney, an author, and a former White House writer and speechwriter to the Governor of California. Throughout his career, John has worked in Hollywood, the heart of Silicon Valley, and ran his boutique law firm in the San Francisco Bay Area, catering to small business owners and entrepreneurs.

Since 2012, John has been the host of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, where he has interviewed hundreds of CEOs, founders, authors, and entrepreneurs, including Peter Diamandis, Adam Grant, Gary Vaynerchuk, and Marie Forleo.

John is also the Co-founder of Rise25, a company that connects B2B businesses with their ideal clients, referral partners, and strategic partners. They help their clients generate ROI through their done-for-you podcast service.

Many professionals understand the value of building relationships to grow a business, but they often struggle with scalable methods that are both authentic and efficient. Podcasting appears attractive but feels overwhelming — time-consuming, technical, and often uncertain in its ROI. So, how can business owners harness podcasting to build meaningful connections and drive growth without getting lost in the details?

John Corcoran, a former White House writer and expert in lead generation, outlines how done-for-you podcasting provides a repeatable system for building strategic relationships. He emphasizes that the key lies in focusing on the conversations rather than obsessing over production. He highlights actionable strategies like creating a Top 100 guest blueprint, overcoming imposter syndrome by forming a podcaster identity, and leveraging each interview to foster genuine partnerships. John also underscores the importance of delegation and training your team to handle client communications effectively.

In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker interviews John Corcoran, Co-founder of Rise25, about the power of podcasting to grow B2B businesses. John shares how podcasting accelerates relationship-building and strategies to overcome imposter syndrome, improve client communication, and incorporate AI for better customer service.

Arnulf Hsu is the CEO and Founder of GReminders, an AI-powered end-to-end meeting management platform tailored for financial advisors. With over two decades of experience in B2B enterprise software, he has held leadership roles including CEO, CTO, and board member, successfully guiding multiple startups from inception to acquisition. His previous ventures include SalesDirector.ai, Central Desktop, and Upgradebase, demonstrating a consistent track record of innovation and growth in the tech industry. An alumnus of the University of California, Irvine, where he studied electrical engineering, Arnulf is also an active advisor to early-stage technology companies.

Managing client meetings, follow-ups, and CRM entries can consume hundreds of hours for financial advisors each year, taking them away from higher-value tasks. Even with existing tools, the lack of deep system integration and automation leads to inefficient workflows and missed opportunities. So, how can advisors truly leverage AI to streamline operations without sacrificing accuracy or compliance?

Arnulf Hsu, a seasoned product and technology leader in B2B software, shares how narrowing AI’s focus to specific use cases and deeply integrating with industry-specific systems can unlock massive efficiencies. He outlines how advisors can automate the full meeting lifecycle — from client outreach and scheduling to transcriptions and CRM updates — by implementing AI tools that align closely with existing workflows. He emphasizes the importance of interoperability, targeted data contexts to reduce AI hallucinations, and robust feedback loops to ensure quality outputs. His approach centers on solving advisor pain points rather than deploying generic AI for its own sake.

In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker interviews Arnulf Hsu, CEO of GReminders, about AI-driven meeting automation for financial advisors. Arnulf discusses how his platform helps advisors recover up to 600 hours per year, the evolution from simple reminders to intelligent automation, and why compliance and data accuracy matter. He also explores agent-to-agent communication, CRM integration depth, and the future of personalized AI assistants.

Marla Sofer is the Founder and CEO of Knomee, a fintech platform that empowers individuals to align their financial decisions with their personal values and goals. With over two decades of experience in financial services — including leadership roles at JP Morgan, BlackRock, Microsoft, and Carta — she has consistently championed client-centric innovation in the industry. Motivated by the industry's shortcomings in truly understanding clients, Marla launched Knomee to redefine client discovery through behavioral science and self-reflection. Beyond her professional endeavors, she is a renowned speaker on financial services evolution and a passionate advocate for women's empowerment.

Financial advisors often believe they understand their clients well, yet many rely on shallow, one-size-fits-all planning strategies. The industry's product-driven incentives and limited client engagement usually prevent advisors from exploring what motivates their clients. How can financial professionals move beyond basic data points to foster deeper, more meaningful client relationships?

Marla Sofer, a seasoned financial services expert with over 20 years of experience across banking, asset management, and fintech, shares that most advisors lack the tools and frameworks to dig deeper into the values and goals of their clients. She emphasizes the importance of guided self-discovery and behavioral insight to replace outdated planning models. Marla explains how advisors can encourage clients to reflect on what brings them joy, articulate their goals in greater detail, and build trust by moving beyond conventional metrics like age or retirement numbers. These techniques differentiate an advisor’s practice, leading to stronger engagement and retention.

In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker interviews Marla Sofer, Founder and CEO of Knomee, about redefining financial planning through behavioral science. Marla discusses how self-reflection leads to smarter financial decisions, the challenges of legacy planning, advisor-client dynamics, and the need for scalable client segmentation. She also shares her entrepreneurial journey, leadership influences, and long-term vision for the industry.

Joshua D. Rogers is the Founder and CEO of Arete Wealth, a Chicago-based financial services firm specializing in alternative investments, venture capital, and private equity. Under his leadership, the firm has expanded to over 100 offices and more than 320 advisors nationwide, providing comprehensive wealth management for high-net-worth individuals and institutions. Before founding Arete Wealth, Joshua co-invented several patents at Walker Digital, including the “Name Your Own Price” e-commerce model behind Priceline.com. He is also an active member of the financial and cultural communities, having served on FINRA’s National Adjudicatory Council and as a trustee of the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.​

Many business leaders struggle to scale without sacrificing their company’s core culture. As firms grow, bureaucracy and investor pressure often dilute the original values that made them successful. Is it possible to expand a business while maintaining its sense of mission, ethics, and community?

Joshua D. Rogers, an expert in wealth management and leadership, offers a compelling answer rooted in intentionality and personal conviction. He emphasizes the importance of creating a company culture that attracts the right people — elite professionals who value autonomy, collaboration, and purpose. Joshua advocates for human-centered leadership, ethical decision-making, and a boutique mindset, even at a mid-size scale. Through face-to-face engagement and clear cultural values, Joshua maintains an environment where advisors and clients feel personally valued and professionally empowered.

In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker interviews Joshua D. Rogers, CEO of Arete Wealth, about preserving company culture while growing a financial services firm. Joshua shares his thoughts on leading without private equity backing, building trust through ethical practices, and humanizing technology. He also discusses advisor recruitment strategies, the impact of market cycles on firm growth, and the influence of classical philosophy on modern leadership.

Adi Klevit is the Founder and CEO of Business Success Consulting Group, which identifies, creates, and documents processes to help businesses scale. She has 25 years of experience as a trained industrial engineer, management consultant, and business executive. With this knowledge, Adi helps organizations and companies improve efficiency and performance.

Running a business without clear systems can leave leaders feeling overwhelmed, overworked, and stuck in a cycle of inefficiency. As teams grow and operations expand, the lack of documented processes can lead to inconsistency, bottlenecks, and a poor customer experience. How can entrepreneurs gain more freedom and control without sacrificing growth?

Adi Klevit, an expert in business systems and process implementation, outlines a powerful framework for building scalable operations. She emphasizes that freedom comes not from delegation alone but from implementing documented processes that empower teams and improve consistency. She shares actionable strategies for creating buy-in from staff, cultivating a process-driven mindset, and using AI tools to streamline operations. From identifying bottlenecks to optimizing workflows, Adi offers a practical roadmap for founders looking to reclaim their time and scale sustainably.

In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker interviews Adi Klevit, Founder of Business Success Consulting Group, about how structured systems give entrepreneurs freedom. Adi explains how process documentation leads to better customer experiences, smoother operations, and empowered teams. She also discusses the importance of mindset, leveraging AI agents, and driving team engagement through ownership.

David A. Perez is the CEO of Tax Maverick, a company that empowers tax professionals by providing technology and AI solutions to enhance their tax advisory services. Under his leadership, Tax Maverick has significantly expanded its reach, transitioning from individual taxpayer services to assisting tax professionals nationwide with impactful tax strategies. David is a renowned tax strategist, bestselling author, and developer of the proprietary 3% Formula, which enables high-income earners to legally minimize their tax liabilities and invest in wealth-building assets like real estate. Through his book Building Your Own Economy and the BYOE Conference, he inspires individuals to take control of their financial futures and build lasting wealth.

Building a scalable business while maintaining exceptional client service is a hurdle every entrepreneur faces. As demand grows, so do the cracks in fulfillment, time management, and team capacity. So, how do you grow your impact without burning out or sacrificing quality?

David A. Perez, a tax strategist and advisor, shares how he overcame these challenges by shifting from direct client service to empowering professionals with tools, training, and AI. He emphasizes the importance of documenting processes, understanding your customers deeply, and focusing relentlessly on one core product. David explains how leveraging AI can close the knowledge gap in professional services, enabling advisors to offer more value and stand out in a commoditized market.

In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker interviews David A. Perez, CEO of Tax Maverick, about empowering tax professionals through AI-driven advisory tools. David discusses the value of strategic focus, how to productize expertise, and the shift from compliance work to high-value consulting. He also shares insights on attracting financial advisors, building tech without a tech background, and improving client experience through education.

​Donald Morgan is the LPL Branch Manager and an Accredited Investment Fiduciary at Independent Wealth Connections, a firm offering a comprehensive range of investment planning products and services, focusing on assisting individuals and business owners with their financial, investment, and retirement needs. With over four decades of experience in the financial services industry, he holds multiple professional registrations and licenses, including FINRA Series 7, 63, and 65 with LPL Financial. In 2023, Donald expanded his professional endeavors by founding iWealthTax LLC, reflecting his commitment to providing holistic financial services. His four-step consultative process ensures personalized solutions, from portfolio diversification to retirement planning and estate strategies.

Many entrepreneurs struggle to balance their business success with their personal financial well-being. The fast-paced world of business ownership often leaves little room for intentional financial planning, especially when the lines between business and family are deeply intertwined. How can business owners build a meaningful financial strategy that supports their company and their loved ones?

Donald Morgan, a veteran financial consultant with decades of experience, shares how aligning business goals with personal values creates more fulfilling and successful outcomes. He emphasizes the importance of working only with clients who are a strong fit — those who are financially literate, responsible, and care about others. He shares a practical filtering process for onboarding new clients and discusses how leaning into technology, including AI-driven tools, helps improve efficiency and client service. Donald’s approach includes automating administrative tasks, outsourcing non-essential work, and focusing on lifelong customer relationships.

In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker interviews Donald Morgan, Financial Consultant and Managing Director at Independent Wealth Connections and iWealthTax, about designing a client-focused financial practice. Donald explores how integrating business with personal financial planning creates deeper value, discusses adopting AI to enhance service, identifying ideal clients, and creating systems that sustain long-term relationships.

Larry Shumbres is the Founder and CEO of Archive Intel, an AI-powered compliance solution designed to streamline the archiving of electronic communications for financial institutions. Under his leadership, Archive Intel secured $1.5 million in seed funding to enhance its AI-driven compliance solutions. ​Larry is a seasoned fintech entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in the financial technology sector, having held positions at leading firms such as Charles Schwab, Morningstar, and New York Life Investments. He founded and successfully exited Totum Risk, a pioneering risk tolerance platform acquired by TIFIN Wealth in 2020.

Legacy compliance software in the financial industry is outdated, expensive, and inefficient. Firms often struggle with manual processes, high rates of false positives, and a lack of visibility into their data — sometimes even being charged to retrieve it. Why are so many companies still stuck with tools that fail to meet the demands of today’s fast-paced, data-driven world?

Larry Shumbres, a fintech entrepreneur and expert in compliance and AI, offers a fresh take on modernizing the regulatory space. Drawing on decades of experience, he outlines how to replace tedious manual reviews with AI-powered agents that automate flagging, auditing, and proactive messaging. By focusing on intuitive design, customer feedback, and realistic AI implementation, Larry shares how firms can reduce false positives by up to 98% while cutting manual tasks by 85%. He also emphasizes the importance of staying personally involved with customers and regularly listening to their pain points to keep innovation alive.

In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker interviews Larry Shumbres, CEO of Archive Intel, about transforming compliance with AI in the fintech industry. Larry discusses building customer-first technology, challenges with legacy vendors, and why staying connected to users matters. He also covers the role of AI agents, proactive compliance, and the cost of outdated workflows.