The Way2Wealth®

Hosted by Scott Ford

BusinessInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

111

Latest episode

May 2026

Language

About the show

The Way2Wealth® Podcast. Join Scott Ford each episode as he and some amazing guests untangle the complex issues of financial management. Financial Freedom is the goal and clarity and simplicity is how we’ll plan to get there. If you have a natural curiosity for learning a little more about the financial and want to have a little fun along the way, then you're in the right place. Scott is the Managing Director, Partner & Wealth Advisor of Carson Wealth in Hagerstown, MD and Johnson City, TN, serving entrepreneurs, small business owners, executives, and families. Hear Past episodes of the Way2Wealth Podcast! https://theway2wealth.com Learn more about our Host, Scott Ford, Managing Director, Partner & Wealth Advisor: https://www.carsonwealth.com/team-members/scott-ford/ Investment advisory services offered through CWM LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor. Carson Partners, a division of CWM LLC, is a nationwide partnership of advisors. The opinions voiced in the Way to Wealth with Scott Ford are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for an individual. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. No strategy assures success or protects against loss. To determine what may be appropriate for you, consult with your attorney, accountant, financial or tax advisor prior to investing. Guests on Way to Wealth are not affiliated with CWM, LLC. Legado Family is not affiliated with CWM LLC. Carson Wealth 19833 Leitersburg Pike, Suite 1, Hagerstown, Maryland, 21742.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 16, 2026Episode 11250 min

Ep. 112: The Biology of Better Relationships: A Conversation with John Gray, Author of Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus

We sit down with Dr John Gray to connect love, stress, and biology to the day-to-day communication problems couples face. We talk hormones, polarity, and practical ways to lower cortisol so relationships feel warmer, simpler, and more alive. • Dr Gray’s new “for women only” focus on being happy with or without a man • Why modern stress makes relationships harder than past generations • How gratitude and appreciation make a man feel like a hero • Adrenaline vs cortisol and what each does to mood, focus, and connection • Why men detach under stress and why women feel more emotion • Rumination, displacement, and how a 10-minute talk can reset the day • The difference between sharing feelings and complaining to force change • Supplements and nutrition ideas discussed: lithium orotate, saffron, rhodiola, creatine • Testosterone and estradiol, belly fat, menopause changes, and keeping attraction through polarityJohn Gray, Author Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venushttps://www.marsvenus.comSee John's new book here.Mars Venus Heart Space app: Download Apple / Download AndroidYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JohnGrayMarsVenus LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marsvenus/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johngraymarsvenus_official/?hl=enX/Twitter: https://x.com/MarsVenusFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mars.Venus.John.Gray/Hear Past episodes of the Way2Wealth Podcast!https://theway2wealth.comLearn more about our Host, Scott Ford, Managing Director, Partner & Wealth Advisorhttps://www.carsonwealth.com/team-members/scott-ford/Investment advisory services offered through CWM LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor. Carson Partners, a division of CWM LLC, is a nationwide partnership of advisors. The opinions voiced in the Way to Wealth with Scott Ford are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for an individual. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. No strategy assures success or protects against loss. To determine what may be appropriate for you, consult with your attorney, accountant, financial or tax advisor prior to investing. Guests on Way to Wealth are not affiliated with CWM, LLC. Legado Family is not affiliated with CWM LLC. Carson Wealth 19833 Leitersburg Pike, Suite 1, Hagerstown, Maryland, 21742.

May 19, 2026Episode 11135 min

Ep. 111: Exit Your Business Smarter, a Conversation with Chad Williams

We talk with business law attorney Chad Williams about what really drives founders to sell and how to prepare before the first serious offer shows up. We dig into why the headline price can be misleading, how to protect your leverage, and what planning looks like after the wire hits.reasons founders exit, from succession gaps to market pressure and burnoutwhy taking chips off the table can restore confidence and reduce riskbuilding a company to sell, and starting exit planning earlier than feels necessarythe uneven playing field between experienced buyers and first-time sellerswhat an LOI really signals, and why terms matter as much as priceusing inbound buyer calls to gather intelligence and build a future target listsetting non-negotiables and defining a walkaway to avoid sunk cost mistakespost-sale planning, including tax and estate considerations plus personal purposeavoiding post-exit traps like investing outside your lane without a processAbout Chad:Chad is a Partner and Business Law attorney at Lamb McErlane PC, he concentrates his practice in business transactions and dispute resolution.Chad brings experience as an investment banker, in-house corporate counsel and corporate private practice attorney to his work advising clients on corporate, commercial and transactional matters. He serves as outside general counsel to many companies, providing advice and support throughout their growth, from formation and operational matters to merger and acquisition transactions. Chad has deep experience in mergers and acquisitions including both buy-side and sell-side representation, including private equity and strategic transactions. He also has significant experience advising senior management and boards of directors on matters relating to corporate governance, fiduciary duties, internal investigations and corporate financing transactions. In addition, Chad advises privately-held companies and family-owned businesses in connection with succession planning and business and partnership dispute resolution.As a trusted advisor, Chad also advises his clients in connection with litigation matters in state and federal court in Pennsylvania and Delaware, and has been admitted pro hac vice in Wyoming.Prior to joining Lamb McErlane, Chad was a partner with Saul Ewing, LLP. Chad began his career as a clerk to the Senior Justice of the Supreme Court of Delaware.Chad Williams, PartnerLamb McErlane PC, Attorneys At Law24 E. Market Street, PO Box 565West Chester, PA 19381610.701.3269If you want to connect with Chad, email ctwilliams@lambmcerlane.com or visit lambmcerlane.com.Hear Past episodes of the Way2Wealth Podcast!https://theway2wealth.comLearn more about our Host, Scott Ford, Managing Director, Partner & Wealth Advisorhttps://www.carsonwealth.com/team-members/scott-ford/Investment advisory services offered through CWM LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor. Carson Partners, a division of CWM LLC, is a nationwide partnership of advisors. The opinions voiced in the Way to Wealth with Scott Ford are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for an individual. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. No strategy assures success or protects against loss. To determine what may be appropriate for you, consult with your attorney, accountant, financial or tax advisor prior to investing. Guests on Way to Wealth are not affiliated with CWM, LLC. Legado Family is not affiliated with CWM LLC. Carson Wealth 19833 Leitersburg Pike, Suite 1, Hagerstown, Maryland, 21742.

April 21, 2026Episode 11037 min

Ep. 110: CPA Attorney Bruce Willey Asks, What If Your Tax Return Is Costing You Wealth

Your tax return can feel like a verdict, but it doesn’t have to be. I sit down with Bruce Willey, a rare combo of CPA and attorney, to talk about what most high-earning business owners never get from “normal” tax prep: an actual tax plan. We start with Bruce’s Tactical Games journey, where accuracy matters even when your heart rate is spiking, and how rebuilding his health after a 2018 stroke sharpened his focus on recovery, discipline, and long-term performance.Then we get into the money. Bruce lays out the difference between tax compliance and tax strategy, why many CPAs are trained to look backward, and why planning is still possible for entrepreneurs and closely held businesses. We talk about building a blended approach instead of chasing one-off deductions, and a simple rule that saves people from bad decisions: don’t buy something you don’t need just to “save taxes.”You’ll hear practical, code-based ideas like paying family members for real work, hiring your kids at fair market value, and using Roth IRA planning in a way many families overlook. We also cover the Augusta Rule and what the IRS expects when you use it, plus audit reality: documentation wins, credit card statements are not receipts, and material participation records can make or break certain deductions. We close with estate planning considerations around today’s elevated estate tax exemption, and where to follow Bruce’s work on Real Clear Markets.If you found this helpful, subscribe, share the episode with a business owner who needs a better plan, and leave a review so more people can find the show.---How to connect with Bruce:Founder & OwnerAmerican Tax & Business Planning3519 Center Point Road NECedar Rapids, IA, 52402Website: https://www.americantbp.com/ Phone: (319) 200-6716 Email: bwilley@americantbp.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@brucewilley3956LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bruce-willey-b574b14/ Twitter: https://x.com/BWcatalystFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericantaxandbusinessplanningHear Past episodes of the Way2Wealth Podcast!https://theway2wealth.comLearn more about our Host, Scott Ford, Managing Director, Partner & Wealth Advisorhttps://www.carsonwealth.com/team-members/scott-ford/Investment advisory services offered through CWM LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor. Carson Partners, a division of CWM LLC, is a nationwide partnership of advisors. The opinions voiced in the Way to Wealth with Scott Ford are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for an individual. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. No strategy assures success or protects against loss. To determine what may be appropriate for you, consult with your attorney, accountant, financial or tax advisor prior to investing. Guests on Way to Wealth are not affiliated with CWM, LLC. Legado Family is not affiliated with CWM LLC. Carson Wealth 19833 Leitersburg Pike, Suite 1, Hagerstown, Maryland, 21742.

March 24, 2026Episode 10931 min

Ep. 109: How Self-Love Builds True Wealth and Well-Being with Dr. Margaret Paul

What if the richest life begins when you finally listen to your feelings? We sit down with Dr. Margaret Paul—best-selling author and co-creator of Inner Bonding—to rethink wealth as well-being and put love at the center of a life that feels good. Forget the myth that a bigger balance sheet guarantees joy. Dr. Paul has coached people with yachts, acclaim, and approval who still felt empty. Her insight is simple: happiness flows from how you treat yourself, especially under stress and in close relationships.We unpack the health, wealth, wisdom, and happiness framework and explore why control patterns—anger, blame, withdrawal, caretaking—quietly drain connection. Dr. Paul outlines the six steps of Inner Bonding: feel your feelings, choose learning over control, get curious about pain, open to guidance, take loving action, and check your feelings for feedback. It’s a practical way to build a trustworthy “loving adult” who sets boundaries, speaks up, and rests without guilt.We also clarify the “inner child”—your soul, wise and speaking through feelings, alongside wounded parts formed over time. When you take responsibility for that inner world, stress eases, health improves, and creativity returns. Personal power shifts from “power over” to alignment between guidance, compassion, and action—changing relationships, careers, and how money supports life.If you’re ready to trade approval-chasing for real peace, this conversation offers clear steps and hope. Subscribe for more conversations that simplify money, elevate well-being, and help you live fully. If this resonated, share it with a friend and leave a quick review—what loving action will you take this week?---DR. MARGARET PAUL is a bestselling author, relationship expert, and co-creator of the powerful Inner Bonding® self-healing process. She has appeared on numerous radio and television shows (including Oprah). Her book titles include Do I Have to Give Up Me to Be Loved By You (over 1 million sold), Healing Your Aloneness, Inner Bonding" and the recently released Diet For Divine Connection and The Inner Bonding Workbook. Margaret has successfully worked with hundreds of thousands around the world and taught classes and seminars for over 53 years.margaret@innerbonding.com 303-772-3508 https://www.innerbonding.comWebsite | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | LinkedInHear Past episodes of the Way2Wealth Podcast!https://theway2wealth.comLearn more about our Host, Scott Ford, Managing Director, Partner & Wealth Advisorhttps://www.carsonwealth.com/team-members/scott-ford/Investment advisory services offered through CWM LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor. Carson Partners, a division of CWM LLC, is a nationwide partnership of advisors. The opinions voiced in the Way to Wealth with Scott Ford are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for an individual. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. No strategy assures success or protects against loss. To determine what may be appropriate for you, consult with your attorney, accountant, financial or tax advisor prior to investing. Guests on Way to Wealth are not affiliated with CWM, LLC. Legado Family is not affiliated with CWM LLC. Carson Wealth 19833 Leitersburg Pike, Suite 1, Hagerstown, Maryland, 21742.

February 24, 2026Episode 10834 min

Ep. 108: How A Wealth Team Beats The Tax Return Mindset with Ashley Sowers

If taxes are your biggest lifetime expense, why leave them to a once-a-year scramble? We zoom out and redesign how you plan, using strategies that compound savings over decades while improving cash flow and control today. With Ashley Sowers back in the studio, we explore how a wealth team sees the full picture—your goals, assets, timelines, and family dynamics—and turns today’s tax incentives into clear, defensible moves that simplify your life.We reframe the goal: stop chasing zero tax and start paying a fair, predictable rate when it buys freedom. Ashley explains why extended individual brackets and a high standard deduction keep “taxes on sale,” how the enhanced senior deduction affects planning after 65, and when Roth conversions act like tax insurance. We then dig into practical wins: a 75-point tax checklist, tax diversification across taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free buckets, beneficiary design to reduce the 10-year inherited IRA squeeze, and charitable tools like donor-advised funds and charitable remainder trusts.The throughline is simplicity with intention—gaining options for retirement, volatility, and legacy while reducing lifetime taxes.About our guest:Ashley Sowers, Partner & Wealth Advisor at Carson Wealth Hagerstown19833 Leitersburg Pike Suite 1Hagerstown MD 21742301-739-8505www.carsonwealth.comConverting from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA is a taxable event.Generally, a donor advised fund is a separately identified fund or account that is maintained and operated by a section 501(c)(3) organization, which is called a sponsoring organization. Each account is composed of contributions made by individual donors. Once the donor makes the contribution, the organization has legal control over it. However, the donor, or the donor's representative, retains advisory privileges with respect to the distribution of funds and the investment of assets in the account. Donors take a tax deduction for all contributions at the time they are made, even though the money may not be dispersed to a charity until much later.Investment minimums and restrictions apply. The minimum investment amount for AQR Flex 145/45 is $1 million which must be in a taxable portfolio with assets that can be margined (including cash and cash equivalents, stocks, ETFs, equity mutual funds). The minimum investment amount for AQR Flex 250/150 is $3 million which must be in a taxable portfolio with assets that can be margined (including cash and cash equivalents, stocks, ETFs, equity mutual funds). A separate portfolio margin agreement is required.Hear Past episodes of the Way2Wealth Podcast!https://theway2wealth.comLearn more about our Host, Scott Ford, Managing Director, Partner & Wealth Advisorhttps://www.carsonwealth.com/team-members/scott-ford/Investment advisory services offered through CWM LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor. Carson Partners, a division of CWM LLC, is a nationwide partnership of advisors. The opinions voiced in the Way to Wealth with Scott Ford are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for an individual. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. No strategy assures success or protects against loss. To determine what may be appropriate for you, consult with your attorney, accountant, financial or tax advisor prior to investing. Guests on Way to Wealth are not affiliated with CWM, LLC. Legado Family is not affiliated with CWM LLC. Carson Wealth 19833 Leitersburg Pike, Suite 1, Hagerstown, Maryland, 21742.

January 27, 2026Episode 10733 min

Ep. 107: From Building A $3.5B Firm To Redefining A Life Well Lived with Scott Danner

What if the real competitive edge in wealth management isn’t alpha, but alignment—of money with meaning, and business with a life you actually want? Scott Ford sits down with Scott Danner to unpack how a door-knocking advisor grew Freedom Street Partners into a$3.5B firm, partnered to scale even further, and built a framework for living that keeps ego in check and energy on purpose.We dig into L.I.F.E.—Love, Impact, Faith, Energy—a simple, powerful compass for making decisions when life tilts out of balance. Love anchors the people who matter most. Impact moves beyond job titles into service and legacy. Faith keeps purpose bigger than pride. Energy ensures you show up with a healthy mind, body, and spirit. Rather than chasing a perfect balance, Danner embraces constant course corrections—nature’s homeostasis—and shares how this mindset steers both leadership and planning.The industry is transforming fast. With more advisors retiring than entering the field, client continuity is at risk. Danner explains why thoughtful M&A isn’t just a liquidity event; it’s a client-first strategy that builds scalable, repeatable processes that endure. We talk about preparing to sell even if you never sell—because documenting your process, developing successors, and reducing key-person risk improves outcomes for clients and boosts enterprise value. We also tackle the mental health side of succession: how identity fused to a practice can derail deals, strain teams, and leave sellers adrift, and how to reframe control into purpose that outlasts any title.If this conversation sparks a new question or a next step, share it with a colleague, subscribe for more, and leave a quick review—what’s one change you’ll make this week?Connect with our guest:Scott Danner, EVP, Head of Legacy at Steward Partners, Author and Host of the High Performance LIFE PodcastWebsite - https://scottdanner.com/Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7_zYDRBiJmLuVlwcCi3qzQLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/scott-danner-freedom-street/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/scottwdanner/?hl=en Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/authorscottdanner Hear Past episodes of the Way2Wealth Podcast!https://theway2wealth.comLearn more about our Host, Scott Ford, Managing Director, Partner & Wealth Advisorhttps://www.carsonwealth.com/team-members/scott-ford/Investment advisory services offered through CWM LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor. Carson Partners, a division of CWM LLC, is a nationwide partnership of advisors. The opinions voiced in the Way to Wealth with Scott Ford are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for an individual. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. No strategy assures success or protects against loss. To determine what may be appropriate for you, consult with your attorney, accountant, financial or tax advisor prior to investing. Guests on Way to Wealth are not affiliated with CWM, LLC. Legado Family is not affiliated with CWM LLC. Carson Wealth 19833 Leitersburg Pike, Suite 1, Hagerstown, Maryland, 21742.

December 30, 2025Episode 10636 min

Ep. 106: Managing Commitments for Stress-Free Productivity with Bob Hendriksen

Feeling buried by work yet driven to do more? We sat down with operations leader Bob Hendrickson to explore a simple truth with big consequences: you can’t manage time, only commitments. From the factory floor to running multi-facility, make-to-order operations at Steelcase, Bob shows how lean principles and David Allen’s Getting Things Done combine into a trusted system that lowers stress and raises output—at work and at home.We trace Bob’s path through hypergrowth, crisis, and supply chain shocks, and unpack why systems outperform willpower. Bob shares his “compass” for action: start with self-mastery (a personal GTD setup that holds every promise), harmonize the team (short huddles, clear owners, visible outcomes), leverage proven systems (Toyota’s TPS, two-second lean, Scaling Up, topgrading), and let results follow. The conversation gets tactical fast: define what done looks like, break work into the next visible step, capture ideas the moment they appear, and review lists by context so the right options surface at the right time.Ready to build a system you trust? Listen now, share it with someone who needs less stress and more momentum, and subscribe for more conversations on making money simple so you can fully live today. If this helped, leave a quick review—it helps others find the show.-----Get to know our guestBob started at Steelcase fresh out of high school in 1988 working on the production line, assembling file cabinets. Over the years, Bob was given opportunities to work in a variety of Operations and Product Development roles, including Director of Lean / Continuous Improvement, Plant Manager of our Seating operation, and Director of Operations Integration, working to integrate the various elements of Operations to function more effectively, as well as to integrate the latest technology into manufacturing. Bob is currently Director, US Operations at Steelcase. He’s also an internal coach & teacher on various aspects of enterprise excellence including Lean manufacturing, strategy deployment and the “Getting Things Done” (GTD) methodology. Previously, he held positions as plant manager, superintendent and director of lean / continuous improvement. He resides in East Grand Rapids with his wife Kristen and children. Bob Hendriksen, Director, US Operations at Steelcasebob.improve@gmail.com616.291.8584Email | YouTube | LinkedIn Hear Past episodes of the Way2Wealth Podcast!https://theway2wealth.comLearn more about our Host, Scott Ford, Managing Director, Partner & Wealth Advisorhttps://www.carsonwealth.com/team-members/scott-ford/Investment advisory services offered through CWM LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor. Carson Partners, a division of CWM LLC, is a nationwide partnership of advisors. The opinions voiced in the Way to Wealth with Scott Ford are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for an individual. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. No strategy assures success or protects against loss. To determine what may be appropriate for you, consult with your attorney, accountant, financial or tax advisor prior to investing. Guests on Way to Wealth are not affiliated with CWM, LLC. Legado Family is not affiliated with CWM LLC. Carson Wealth 19833 Leitersburg Pike, Suite 1, Hagerstown, Maryland, 21742.

December 2, 2025Episode 10531 min

Ep. 105: Taxes Made Simple For High Earners with Rob Cook

Stop letting your tax return tell the only story about your money. We invited Rob Cook—CPA, CFP, and seasoned advisor to executives, athletes, and families—to break down how real tax strategy starts with who you are, where you want to go, and the few moves that actually change your outcome. Instead of chasing every trick on the internet, Rob shows why stacking “base hits” creates immediate savings and flexibility, and how to choose one or two “home runs” that fit your strengths.We talk through the crucial difference between a historian CPA who files forms and a strategic partner who looks through the windshield. You’ll hear why high-earning W‑2 professionals are not stuck, how accredited status opens meaningful options, and how to avoid complexity that rich headlines can afford but most people can’t defend. Rob shares a simple, repeatable process: clarify your goals and constraints, close tax leaks hiding in plain sight, align strategy with life and cash flow, then implement and iterate as your fastball evolves.From HSAs, donor-advised funds, and retirement plan design to QSBS, cost segregation, and real estate professional status, we separate the tools from the hype. You’ll learn how to convert personal costs into valid business deductions when facts allow, why lifestyle creep kills deployable capital, and how a personal CFO framework helps you save taxes without sacrificing sanity. The goal is clarity and control: a lighter tax bill, a simpler structure, and more energy for the work and people you love.If you’re ready to make money simple and build around your true wealth creation play, this conversation is your blueprint. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a better plan, and leave a review telling us your top “base hit” to implement this week.-----With over 10 years of experience in accounting and wealth management, Rob has worked with everyone from CEOs and world-class athletes to local families, helping them reduce taxes, build wealth, and achieve financial freedom. Holding both a Master’s and Bachelor’s in Accounting from BYU, he is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), and has passed Level I of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exam.Known for bringing both expertise and personality to finance, Rob is passionate about personal finance, taxes, and investing. Frustrated with the industry’s lack of real impact, he set out to truly help people transform their financial futures—and now, that’s what he does every day.Connect with Rob Cook:Rob Cook, Bement & Company, Director of Strategic Tax380 North 200 West Ste 112 Bountiful, UT 84010801-936-1900rob@bementcompany.comhttps://bementcompany.com/Website | LinkedInHear Past episodes of the Way2Wealth Podcast!https://theway2wealth.comLearn more about our Host, Scott Ford, Managing Director, Partner & Wealth Advisorhttps://www.carsonwealth.com/team-members/scott-ford/Investment advisory services offered through CWM LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor. Carson Partners, a division of CWM LLC, is a nationwide partnership of advisors. The opinions voiced in the Way to Wealth with Scott Ford are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for an individual. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. No strategy assures success or protects against loss. To determine what may be appropriate for you, consult with your attorney, accountant, financial or tax advisor prior to investing. Guests on Way to Wealth are not affiliated with CWM, LLC. Legado Family is not affiliated with CWM LLC. Carson Wealth 19833 Leitersburg Pike, Suite 1, Hagerstown, Maryland, 21742.

November 18, 2025Episode 1041 hr 0 min

Ep. 104: A Father, A Son, And A Path From Darkness To Hope with Jacob Ford and Gary Hess

A son on the brink calls his father from a riverbank and hears an answer he never expected: “I think I have some answers. Trust me.” That moment unlocks a story about real wealth—not assets, but well-being—and the hard, human path to get it back.We sit with Jacob Ford as he traces a line from a split home to two combat deployments, the loss of purpose after service, and a three-year fall into alcohol and opiates that led to five overdoses. The turning point is vulnerable and specific: a ten-day protocol blending NAD amino acid therapy, plant-based medicine, and daily journaling in a quiet West Virginia treehouse, with his dad beside him as he confronted the scared child within. Jacob returns with clarity, love, and a vow to help others find their way home—founding Warrior Tribe Assembly alongside veteran leader Gary Hess.Gary brings the other half of the truth: the weight of moral injury, the limits of a decade of conventional treatments, and why a peer-led container with clinical oversight can change outcomes. He lays out a practical toolkit—breath work, ice baths, meditation, stillness, intention setting—and explains how “soul retrieval” isn’t escape, but reconnection. We talk about the entrepreneurs who outrun pain with productivity, the ceilings built by old stories, and how making the unconscious conscious frees us to choose differently. This is not about transcendence; it’s integration. It’s learning to sit with shame, grief, and fear until they alchemize into agency.If you or someone you love is a veteran, first responder, trauma survivor, or a founder hitting invisible walls, you’ll hear both hope and a plan: structure, community, and embodied practices that stabilize and restore choice. Ready to learn more or reach out for support? Visit warriortribeassembly.com. If this conversation moved you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find their way back to well-being.-----Connect with our guests:Jacob Ford, Mental Health Specialist, Warrior Tribe Assemblyj.ford1995@hotmail.com304.616.1019 Gary Hess, Founder, The Warrior Tribe Assemblygary.hess@vahahealth.comhttps://warriortribeassembly.com/819 4th St, Gretna, LA 70053Website: https://warriortribeassembly.com/ Twitter: https://x.com/WarriorTribePod Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@WarriorTribeMA/videos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-ford-a18521136/ Hear Past episodes of the Way2Wealth Podcast!https://theway2wealth.comLearn more about our Host, Scott Ford, Managing Director, Partner & Wealth Advisorhttps://www.carsonwealth.com/team-members/scott-ford/Investment advisory services offered through CWM LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor. Carson Partners, a division of CWM LLC, is a nationwide partnership of advisors. The opinions voiced in the Way to Wealth with Scott Ford are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for an individual. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. No strategy assures success or protects against loss. To determine what may be appropriate for you, consult with your attorney, accountant, financial or tax advisor prior to investing. Guests on Way to Wealth are not affiliated with CWM, LLC. Legado Family is not affiliated with CWM LLC. Carson Wealth 19833 Leitersburg Pike, Suite 1, Hagerstown, Maryland, 21742.

November 4, 2025Episode 10332 min

Ep. 103: Designing a Sale: Value, Timing, and Terms with Brian Goodhart

Ever wonder why some founders exit with clarity and calm while others get trapped by their own success? We sit down with M&A advisor Brian Goodhart of Capstone Strategic to unpack the real mechanics of selling a mid-market business—what buyers actually value, how timing and structure shape outcomes, and why “someday” is a dangerously vague plan. If your company is your largest asset, this conversation helps you protect it.We go deep on the difference between owning a job and owning a transferable business, the quiet power of clean financials, and building a leadership bench that can run without you. Brian lays out a simple three-phase process—planning and preparation, outreach and engagement, and deal advisory to close—that keeps confidentiality tight, aligns buyer conversations with your priorities, and reduces surprises in diligence. We also break down the “selling equation,” a mix of price, terms, post-close involvement, timing, operational changes, and the personal X-factors that matter to you. Define these early and you invite offers that fit, not just numbers that flatter.Founder fatigue is real, and naming it can save value. We talk openly about burnout, why starting early creates options, and how knowing your “enough” number guides smarter deal structures—from taking some chips off the table to rolling equity for upside. The twist? Preparing to sell often makes the business stronger and more enjoyable, so you may choose not to transact at all. That’s the point: optionality. If you want a sale on your terms, or simply a company that runs better now, this is your roadmap.If this resonates, follow and share the show, and leave a review with the one question you still have about selling your business. Your question might shape a future episode.-----About Our Guest:Brian GoodhartCapstone Strategic, Director, M&A Advisory Services8521 Leesburg Pike, Suite 230, Vienna VA 22182bgoodhart@gmail.com717-372-2403www.capstonestrategic.comAs Director of Capstone’s M&A Advisory Services, Brian is a proven Growth Engineer experienced in conducting middle-market transactions on both the buy and sell sides. He works side-by-side with clients throughout the deal making process.LinkedIn | Email | WebsiteHear Past episodes of the Way2Wealth Podcast!https://theway2wealth.comLearn more about our Host, Scott Ford, Managing Director, Partner & Wealth Advisorhttps://www.carsonwealth.com/team-members/scott-ford/Investment advisory services offered through CWM LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor. Carson Partners, a division of CWM LLC, is a nationwide partnership of advisors. The opinions voiced in the Way to Wealth with Scott Ford are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for an individual. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. No strategy assures success or protects against loss. To determine what may be appropriate for you, consult with your attorney, accountant, financial or tax advisor prior to investing. Guests on Way to Wealth are not affiliated with CWM, LLC. Legado Family is not affiliated with CWM LLC. Carson Wealth 19833 Leitersburg Pike, Suite 1, Hagerstown, Maryland, 21742.