Harnessing Your Wealth with Billy Peterson

In this episode of Harnessing Your Wealth, Billy sits down with Dustin Smith, founder and president of Especially for Athletes (E4A), a nonprofit that helps student athletes use their influence to lift others, stand up to bullying, and look out for classmates who are struggling.

Dustin traces E4A back to about 15 years ago, when he realized that teaching kids to throw a football wasn't enough. He talks about the "sportlight," the attention young athletes get, which social media has magnified, and why it can crush a kid or give them a platform to do real good. He also explains the E4A creed, "Eyes up, do the work," and why he believes it applies to everyone, not just athletes.

In this episode:

- How E4A began and why Dustin shifted from skills training to character and culture

- The "Sportlight" and what it means for a 16-year-old with a platform

- Why awareness alone isn't enough, and what action looks like

- The difference between inspiration and motivation

- How E4A is funded, and why schools pay very little and students never pay

- How COVID, devices, and social media have affected kids' social skills and resiliency

- Why Dustin says online safety and kindness start with parents

- What to do if you're worried about a friend: "If you're going to be wrong, be wrong on trying to do the right thing"

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome and how E4A began

01:13 The "sport light"

02:21 "Eyes up, do the work"

04:18 Bullying, mental health, and why Dustin took action

08:42 Getting schools to open their doors

10:28 Inspiration vs. motivation

11:54 How E4A is funded

13:58 Staying the course

22:14 COVID's effect on kids

28:59 Talking about suicide and helping a friend

31:41 Stories from students and schools

34:23 Online bullying and the role of parents

37:44 Where to find Dustin and E4A

Learn more, book Dustin to speak, or find his books (Especially for Athletes and The Sportlight) at https://e4a.org

This episode discusses bullying and suicide prevention. If you or someone you know is struggling, you can call or text 988 (the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) in the U.S. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

Subscribe to Harnessing Your Wealth for more conversations on careers, community, and the stories behind the people who shape our corner of the world.

Peterson Wealth Services is a registered investment advisor. Information presented on this program is believed to be factual and up to date, but we do not guarantee its accuracy and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. The guest speaker for this broadcast is not a client of Peterson Wealth and will receive a "thank you" gift for sharing his opinions and experiences. Discussions and answers to questions do not involve the rendering of a personalized investment advice, but are limited to the dissemination of general information. A professional advisor should be consulted before implementing any of the options presented. Peterson Wealth Services.

Mike the Grinch: Becoming Northern Utah's Favorite Christmas Villain

By trade, Mike Genta is a licensed plumber turned Paul Davis Restoration representative. Every December, he's the Grinch. In this episode of Harnessing Your Wealth, Billy sits down with Mike to hear how a five-year-old who didn't believe in Santa turned into a holiday tradition more than a decade in the making.

Mike shares how a cheap costume became custom prosthetics, a suit his mother spent months sewing, and appearances at city events, Christmas tree lightings, and free holiday events for military families. He also talks about 30+ years in the trades, why he thinks skilled labor is more valuable than ever, and the unexpected path that took him from a failed military physical to plumbing, project management, and sales.

In this episode:

- How a five-year-old's doubts about Santa created "Mike the Grinch"

- Why he started asking for donated gifts instead of charging for appearances

- The fire truck, the onions, and how Santa always saves the day

- 30+ years in the trades and why Mike encourages kids to consider trade school

- Moving from plumbing to project management to sales and business development

- Coaching Weber State's club soccer team as a volunteer, and what pays him back

- Why "get off your phone" is his best advice for anyone figuring out their next step

Want to find Mike? Search "Mike the Grinch" on Facebook or Instagram.

Subscribe to Harnessing Your Wealth for more conversations on careers, community, and the stories behind the people who shape our corner of the world.

Peterson Wealth Services is a registered investment advisor. Information presented on this program is believed to be factual and up to date, but we do not guarantee its accuracy and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. The guest speaker for this broadcast is not a client of Peterson Wealth and will receive a "thank you" gift for sharing his opinions and experiences. Discussions and answers to questions do not involve the rendering of a personalized investment advice, but are limited to the dissemination of general information. A professional advisor should be consulted before implementing any of the options presented. Peterson Wealth Services.

In this episode of Harnessing Your Wealth, Billy sits down with Eric Landon, Technical Director of Utah Youth Soccer Association, who oversees programming for more than 60,000 players across the state.

The conversation goes beyond soccer — Eric's own path from American Football to professional soccer tryouts to coaching thousands of young athletes sets up a deeper discussion about parent psychology in youth sports. Billy gets candid about his own experience as an overly invested baseball dad, and Eric breaks down why so many talented kids burn out by age 12-14, and what a "no score, no standings" league teaches.

You'll hear real talk on:

- Eric's unlikely path from an avionics degree to pro soccer tryouts to coaching

- Why youth sports burnout peaks between ages 12 and 14

- Billy's own confession about losing perspective as a coach-parent

- A true local success story: a former Peterson Wealth intern now playing professional soccer

- What hosting the 2026 World Cup in the U.S. meant for the sport

- Eric's advice for parents: ask questions, stay informed, and know when to get out of your own way

Whether you're raising a young athlete or just enjoy a good story about chasing an unlikely career, this conversation offers real perspective on ambition, patience, and knowing the difference between supporting your kids and living through them.

Subscribe to Harnessing Your Wealth for more conversations on building wealth, raising resilient kids, and making smart financial decisions.

Peterson Wealth Services is a registered investment advisor. Information presented on this program is believed to be factual and up to date, but we do not guarantee its accuracy and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. The guest speaker for this broadcast is not a client of Peterson Wealth and will receive a "thank you" gift for sharing his opinions and experiences. Discussions and answers to questions do not involve the rendering of a personalized investment advice, but are limited to the dissemination of general information. A professional advisor should be consulted before implementing any of the options presented. Peterson Wealth Services.

Partners, Not Funders: Rethinking How Charitable Dollars Should Work - JeuneElle Jeffries

In this episode of Harnessing Your Wealth, Billy sits down with JeuneElle Jeffries, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northern Utah, for a candid look at what actually makes a nonprofit effective — and what doesn't.

JeuneElle has run youth-serving organizations since 1993 and was recently named one of Utah's most influential women. She shares why she stopped chasing large one-time donations and instead built partnerships with local employers, why she believes nonprofits should be evaluated the same way you'd evaluate a business, and why being honest with funders about a program that failed actually strengthened trust rather than losing it.

You'll hear real talk on:

• Why partnerships beat one-time fundraising for long-term stability
• What to ask before donating to a charity or nonprofit
• Why some major university endowments give away only a small fraction of their holdings each year
• How the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northern Utah built a new community campus
• The programs teaching kids workforce skills, tech skills, and basic life skills after 2020

Whether you're weighing a one-time donation or building charitable giving into a broader financial or estate plan, this conversation offers a rare, honest look from the nonprofit side of the table.

Subscribe to Harnessing Your Wealth for more conversations with Billy.

Peterson Wealth Services is a registered investment advisor.  Information presented on this program is believed to be factual and up to date, but we do not guarantee its accuracy and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. The guest speaker for this broadcast is not a client of Peterson Wealth and will receive a "thank you" gift for sharing her opinions and experiences.  Discussions and answers to questions do not involve the rendering of a personalized investment advice, but are limited to the dissemination of general information. A professional advisor should be consulted before implementing any of the options presented. Peterson Wealth Services.

Behind the Curtain: Our Advisors Get Real About Money

In this episode of Harnessing Your Wealth, we're flipping the format. Billy's daughter Kaiya takes over hosting duties to grill Billy, Sean, and Cade — the advisors behind Peterson Wealth Services — on their own money mistakes, best purchases, and hard-earned lessons from years in the financial advisory business.

From a maxed-out credit card for an engagement ring, to a DIY fence disaster, to a stock market crash story that changed how one advisor thinks about risk — this episode goes beyond the usual financial advice to show the human side of the people managing your money.

You'll hear real talk on:

-The dumbest purchases and most expensive mistakes they've ever made

-Lessons learned the hard way about investment risk

-Why "trust is hard to earn but easy to lose" is the philosophy behind everything they do

-How to stop comparing your finances to what you see on social media

-The best financial and career advice they've ever received

Subscribe to Harnessing Your Wealth for more conversations on building wealth, avoiding costly mistakes, and making smart financial decisions.

This week on Harnessing Your Wealth, Billy sits down with Rich and Shellie, who turned a shoestring motorsports opportunity into Renegade Sports and Rentals, a business they built and ran together for 25 years. But the conversation goes far beyond business — it's also the story of their daughter Raysha, a champion snowmobile racer who turned her platform into Raysha's Race for the Cure, helping cancer patients and families in need. It's a story about risk, resilience, and building a legacy.

In this episode, FBI agent Bret Curtis discusses the latest scams, including crypto fraud, romance scams, and business email compromises. Learn how to recognize, prevent, and respond to these sophisticated schemes to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Key Topics

Guest: Bret Curtis

Special Agent Bret Curtis has been with the FBI for 20 years. He has been assigned to offices in Memphis, Chicago, and Phoenix, working various violent crime and terrorism matters. SA Curtis has also held supervisory roles and worked as the assistant legal attaché in San Salvador, where he was responsible for FBI initiatives in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Belize. SA Curtis has primarily worked elder fraud cases for the past five years and continues to work financial crime matters in the Salt Lake City office. Prior to his employment with the FBI, he worked as a police officer and detective.

Resources for Fraud Reporting:

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This presentation is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as individualized investment advice or a recommendation of any particular security, strategy, or investment product. The views and opinions expressed by the guest speaker are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Peterson Wealth. The guest speaker is not affiliated with Peterson Wealth,  and Peterson Wealth does not endorse or guarantee the accuracy of third-party information.  The guest is not paid compensation for their participation; however, he/she may receive a non-cash gift from the firm.  

Peterson Wealth is a registered investment advisor with the SEC. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Past performance is not indicative of future results. All investments involve risk, including the possible loss of principal.

Any examples or illustrations used in this presentation are hypothetical in nature and for demonstration purposes only. You should consult with your personal financial, tax, or legal advisor before making any investment decisions.