In this episode of Beyond the Numbers, host Chris Everett sits down with renowned business strategist, author, and thought leader Rashad Tabakawala for a powerful conversation about leadership, technology, and what it means to stay human in an increasingly data-driven world.

After spending nearly four decades at the forefront of digital transformation, advising global organizations such as Google, Meta, IBM, Walmart, and JPMorgan Chase, Rashad shares why he believes the greatest challenge facing modern leaders isn't technology—it's preserving humanity, creativity, and purpose amid rapid change.

Together, Chris and Rashad explore the ideas behind Rashad's acclaimed books Restoring the Soul of Business and Rethinking Work, discussing the balance between data and intuition, the future of work in the age of AI, the rise of fractional careers, and why the most successful organizations combine digital innovation with authentic human connection.

Listeners will hear practical insights on leadership, vulnerability, organizational culture, lifelong learning, and navigating uncertainty in a world where the future no longer fits the containers of the past.

Whether you're a business leader, entrepreneur, advisor, or someone rethinking your own career path, this conversation offers valuable perspectives on building a life and business that align success with meaning and purpose.

Topics include: • Staying human in the age of AI • Leadership with honesty, empathy, and vulnerability • The future of work and career transformation • Balancing data, technology, and human connection • Creating cultures of trust and innovation • Learning, adaptability, and long-term relevance

Join us for an inspiring discussion on where money meets meaning—and why the soul of business matters now more than ever.

About the Guest:

Rashad Tabakawala is a globally recognized business strategist, bestselling author, speaker, and former Chief Strategist and Chief Growth Officer of Publicis Groupe, where he spent 37 years helping lead one of the world's largest organizations through the digital revolution while advising companies such as Google, Meta, IBM, Walmart, and JPMorgan Chase. He is the author of Restoring the Soul of Business and Rethinking Work, co-founder of the Athena Project, founder of the Tabakawala Foundation, and a trusted advisor to leaders worldwide on the future of work, leadership, and staying human in the age of AI.

About the show

Beyond the Numbers is where growth-minded professionals talk strategy, legacy, and the financial decisions that shape their future. Hosted by fiduciary financial planner Chris Everett, the podcast explores how people align business growth with personal purpose through intentional wealth-building. Chris is also President of Everett Wealth Solutions, Inc. is a Registered Investment Adviser in the State of Illinois for fiduciary financial planning and asset management across the nation.

What if prosthetic limbs could become a source of confidence instead of something people try to hide?

In this episode of Beyond the Numbers, Chris Everett sits down with renowned industrial designer and entrepreneur Scott Summit — founder of Bespoke Innovations and Ethereal Matter — for a powerful conversation about empathy-driven design, entrepreneurship, and building technology that restores dignity.

After designing products for Apple, Nike, Sony, and Palm, Scott left a successful career behind to reinvent prosthetics using 3D scanning and 3D printing technology. His custom prosthetic fairings helped amputees reclaim confidence, identity, and self-expression while dramatically reducing costs compared to traditional custom prosthetics.

Scott also shares:

This episode is about far more than technology. It’s about using innovation to improve human lives.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

About the Guest:

About the show

Beyond the Numbers is where growth-minded professionals talk strategy, legacy, and the financial decisions that shape their future. Hosted by fiduciary financial planner Chris Everett, the podcast explores how people align business growth with personal purpose through intentional wealth-building. Chris is also President of Everett Wealth Solutions, Inc. is a Registered Investment Adviser in the State of Illinois for fiduciary financial planning and asset management across the nation.

#ScottSummit #3DPrinting #IndustrialDesign #Prosthetics #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #VR #EtherealMatter #BespokeInnovations #DesignThinking #ChrisEverett #BeyondTheNumbers

Sound Investments: The Intersection of Hearing and Financial Wellbeing | Beyond the Numbers Podcast

What if one of the biggest risks to your financial future… had nothing to do with the stock market?

In this episode of Beyond the Numbers, host Chris Everett sits down with hearing care expert Adam Dell to explore the powerful—and often overlooked—connection between hearing health and financial wellbeing.

From relationships and career performance to cognitive decline and long-term healthcare costs, untreated hearing loss carries consequences far beyond what most people expect.

Adam shares insights from over 17 years in the field, breaking down how modern hearing care works, why hearing aids are a true investment (not just a device), and what people should know before making a decision.

If you’re thinking about retirement planning, supporting aging parents, or protecting your long-term quality of life—this conversation will change how you think about health and money.

🎯 What You’ll Learn:

• The hidden financial costs of untreated hearing loss

👤 About the Guest – Adam Dell

Adam Dell is a Board-Certified Hearing Aid Specialist with Audibel, serving patients in the Chicago area. With over 17 years of experience, Adam has built a reputation for combining clinical expertise with a deeply personalized, service-driven approach to hearing care.

He specializes in helping patients understand high-frequency hearing loss, improving speech clarity, and guiding individuals through the full journey—from testing and fitting to long-term care and support. His work focuses not just on hearing better, but on helping people reconnect with their lives, relationships, and confidence.

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to the Show

📌 Connect with Adam Dell:

📍 Audibel Hearing Center (Chicago Area)

📈 About the Podcast

Beyond the Numbers is where growth-minded professionals talk strategy, legacy, and the financial decisions that shape their future. Hosted by fiduciary financial planner Chris Everett, the podcast explores how people align business growth with personal purpose through intentional wealth-building. Chris is also President of Everett Wealth Solutions, Inc. is a Registered Investment Adviser in the State of Illinois for fiduciary financial planning and asset management across the nation.

What happens when you combine entrepreneurial instinct, emerging tech, and a deep understanding of how sales actually works?

In this episode of Beyond the Numbers, host Chris Everett sits down with Paul Pacun, CEO and Founder of vablet, to explore how modern sales teams can operate smarter, stay compliant, and build real trust with clients.

Paul shares the story behind the “light bulb moment” sparked by the iPad—and how that idea evolved into a powerful sales enablement platform used by global enterprises. From managing complex content to enabling offline access and ensuring compliance in highly regulated industries, vablet is redefining how sales teams show up in the field.

But this conversation goes deeper than tools.

It’s about how the best salespeople don’t sell harder—they sell smarter, using technology to remove friction and focus on what actually matters: relationships.

• How Paul turned an early tech insight into a scalable business

00:00 Introduction

Paul Pacun is the CEO and Founder of vablet, a leading sales enablement platform designed to help teams deliver the right content—anytime, anywhere, even offline. Trusted by global organizations across healthcare, finance, and manufacturing, vablet empowers sales teams to stay organized, compliant, and effective in every client interaction.

About the show

Beyond the Numbers is where growth-minded professionals talk strategy, legacy, and the financial decisions that shape their future. Hosted by fiduciary financial planner Chris Everett, the podcast explores how people align business growth with personal purpose through intentional wealth-building. Chris is also President of Everett Wealth Solutions, Inc. is a Registered Investment Adviser in the State of Illinois for fiduciary financial planning and asset management across the nation.

What does it really take to build an elite engineering team—and why is retention one of the most overlooked financial risks in business?

In this episode of Beyond The Numbers, host Chris Everett sits down with John Szeder, a Fractional Chief Technology Officer and “zero-to-one” builder, to explore the intersection of engineering leadership, business performance, and long-term value creation.

From his early inspiration in online gaming to leadership roles at Zynga and beyond, John shares the real lessons behind building high-performing teams—and why keeping great talent is one of the most important financial decisions a company can make.

• What separates elite engineering teams from average ones

John Szeder is a Fractional Chief Technology Officer who works with companies like Seismic Studios and Tennex Networks, helping them build and scale elite engineering teams. Known as a “zero-to-one” expert, he specializes in taking ideas from concept to execution across industries—from gaming to startups.

He brings a unique perspective shaped by both technical and leadership experience, emphasizing retention, culture, and long-term value creation as core drivers of business success. John is also active in the Technology Executives Club, where he contributes to discussions on AI, leadership, and the future of engineering.

Beyond the Numbers is where growth-minded professionals talk strategy, legacy, and the financial decisions that shape their future. Hosted by fiduciary financial planner Chris Everett, the podcast explores how people align business growth with personal purpose through intentional wealth-building. Chris is also President of Everett Wealth Solutions, Inc. is a Registered Investment Adviser in the State of Illinois for fiduciary financial planning and asset management across the nation.

00:00 Show Intro

• Leadership and growth

In this episode of Beyond the Numbers, host Chris Everett sits down with Ralph Dahm, a veteran in technology, financial investigations, and executive search, to explore the growing world of crypto fraud and blockchain forensics.

Ralph began studying Bitcoin in 2013, when it was increasingly being used to bypass anti-money laundering (AML) laws and financial regulations. Since then, he has dedicated his career to tracing stolen digital assets, helping fraud victims seek justice, and educating the public about the risks of cryptocurrency scams.

During the conversation, Ralph explains how crypto fraud affects real people, why recovery is so difficult, and why only 2–5% of cases result in recovered funds. He also walks through how blockchain tracing actually works, from transaction “hops” to AI-powered forensic tools used to follow funds across wallets and exchanges.

Chris and Ralph discuss:

• How investigators trace cryptocurrency across blockchains

If you’ve ever wondered whether crypto is truly anonymous—or how investigators recover stolen digital assets—this episode offers an inside look at the world of blockchain forensics and financial crime investigations.

Episode Timestamps

00:00 Podcast Introduction

About Ralph Dahm

Ralph Dahm is a Certified Financial Crimes Investigator (CFCI) with more than 30 years of experience in technology, financial crime investigations, and executive recruiting.

He is the Founder of Twin Oaks Holdings, President of IT Audit Search, and Executive Managing Director at Smart Ballots, where he focuses on blockchain technology, election security, and fraud investigation.

Ralph works at the intersection of blockchain forensics, cryptocurrency fraud recovery, and financial crime prevention, helping victims, law firms, and law enforcement agencies trace stolen digital assets and pursue justice.

His professional network includes 10,000+ contacts across law enforcement, blockchain, and financial crime communities, and he frequently writes and speaks about the evolving risks of crypto fraud and digital asset security.

Connect with Ralph:

About the Podcast

Beyond the Numbers is where conversations about wealth go deeper. Hosted by fiduciary financial planner Chris Everett, the podcast brings together leaders from business, finance, law, and technology to discuss the strategies, decisions, and purpose behind building lasting wealth.

Subscribe for more conversations about wealth, leadership, and purpose.

#blockchain #cryptofraud #bitcoin #financialcrime #cybersecurity #blockchainforensics #cryptoscams #wealthprotection #beyondthenumbers

What does it take to lead under extreme pressure — and still build a life of purpose, fulfillment, and legacy?

In this episode of Beyond the Numbers, fiduciary financial planner Chris Everett sits down with Sean Patton — former U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Beret) commander, Novus Global executive coach, keynote speaker, entrepreneur, and author of A Warrior’s Mindset: Six Keys to Greatness.

Sean breaks down why real leadership isn’t a checklist — it’s a way of being. From West Point to combat deployments to building businesses after leaving the military, Sean shares the hard-earned lessons behind self-leadership, identity, resilience, and the long game of success.

You’ll hear:

• Why self-leadership comes before leading anyone else

If you’re a leader, entrepreneur, veteran, or anyone trying to build a life that actually works — this conversation will challenge you in the best way.

📌 Learn more about Sean:

👍 If this episode resonates, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs it.

Chapters / Timestamps

Beyond the Numbers: How CAST Water Safety Foundation Teaches Toddlers to Self-Rescue with Liz Hubbert

What if the “water baby” dunking we see on vacation is actually teaching toddlers something dangerous—like believing an adult will always be there to pull them up for air?

In this episode of Beyond the Numbers, host Chris Everett sits down with Liz Hubbert, leader of the CAST Water Safety Foundation, to share the pivotal poolside moment that changed everything—and launched a mission to help children become aquatic problem solvers.

Liz explains how self-rescue swim instruction (including ISR and similar programs) uses six weeks of daily, private 10-minute lessons to teach even very young kids how to swim, float, find air, and practice fully clothed—skills designed to prevent drowning, the leading cause of death for children ages 1–4, with many incidents occurring during non-swim time.

CAST’s model is equally unique:

Liz also shares CAST’s collaboration with the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Youth Safety Lab on a published study on 1-year-old water competency, plus practical safety guidance every caregiver should know—like proper pool fencing and checking water first if a child is missing.

Learn more, find programs, and locate instructors: castwatersafety.org

⏱️ Timestamps

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations where money meets meaning and purpose.

#BeyondTheNumbers #WaterSafety #CAST #DrowningPrevention #Parenting #ChildSafety #ISR #SwimLessons #NonprofitLeadership #FamilySafety

In this episode of Beyond the Numbers — where money meets meaning and purpose, host Chris Everett sits down with Brad Jenkins, CFP®, Chief Investment Officer & CEO of MarketGuard, to unpack what it really takes to pursue strong returns without living through stomach-churning volatility.

Brad shares the unlikely origin story that started with him reading the financial section in 7th grade, the moment he realized the industry often prioritizes profits over people, and why he built Market Guard around three pillars: excellence, integrity, and innovation.

You’ll also hear the “cookies” framework behind Brad’s book Cookies and Retirement: A Recipe for Success—a simple way to understand portfolio construction, behavioral risks, and why “time and temperature” matter as much as ingredients.

If you’re an investor who wants clarity, or an advisor evaluating an investment partner, this conversation breaks down what to look for, what questions to ask, and how disciplined downside protection can help clients stay invested when markets get loopy.

🎙️ Guest: Brad Jenkins, CFP® — CIO & CEO, MarketGuard

In this episode, we cover:

📌 About the show

Everett Wealth

👍 If this episode helped:

Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who wants a smarter way to think about wealth.

#BeyondTheNumbers #ChrisEverett #BradJenkins #MarketGuard #EverettWealthSolutions #WealthManagement #FinancialPlanning #Investing #PortfolioManagement #RiskManagement #DownsideProtection #Volatility #BehavioralFinance #Fiduciary #RetirementPlanning #FinancialAdvisor #RIA #AssetManagement #Leadership #PurposeDrivenWealth #LegacyBuilding

What does freedom really mean when you’ve lived without it?

In this episode of Beyond the Numbers: Where Money Meets Meaning & Purpose, host Chris Everett sits down with authors and former journalists Nonna and Russell Working, a couple whose journey from the Soviet Union to the United States gave them a lived understanding of free speech, censorship, and the real cost of standing on principle.

Russell, a Pushcart Prize–winning writer and former Chicago Tribune journalist, and Nona, an academic research administrator and author, share firsthand experiences reporting under authoritarian systems, navigating corruption, witnessing state-controlled media, and ultimately choosing meaning over financial optimization. From covering mafia wars and North Korean forced labor to confronting ideological conformity in modern America, this conversation explores how wealth, freedom, and purpose intersect when speaking the truth comes at a price.

This is not a partisan debate—it’s a deep discussion about courage, incentives, personal responsibility, and what happens when people stop protecting comfort and start protecting values.

Timestamps:

Call to Action: