The Enlightened Family Business Podcast

Secret Thoughts of CEOS Ep. 141

Balancing Boardrooms and Bedrooms - When You and Your Spouse are in a Family Business Together With Gabriela Embon

In this powerful and practical episode, Chris Yonker is joined by transformational coach and author Gabriela Embon to explore what it really takes to sustain a legendary marriage—especially when love and business intertwine. Gabriela shares insights from her journey from engineer to relationship strategist and introduces the Four Pillars of Legendary Marriage from her book Becoming a Power Couple.

Together, they dive into boundaries, communication, conflict repair, intimacy, self-awareness, co-leadership, and how couples can integrate their personal and professional lives with more grace, connection, and fulfillment. Whether you and your partner work together or not, this episode is packed with real-life tools to deepen your bond while still pursuing ambitious goals.

• 02:14 – Why relationships fall apart when home gets the "leftovers"
• 07:00 – "Your spouse comes first" - navigating loyalty and family friction
• 13:00 – Creating new identities when becoming a spouse and parent
• 16:00 – When both partners are drained - how disconnection begins
• 18:30 – Presence over performance: love is not about taking
• 24:00 – Operational vs. connection rituals to run a marriage well
• 26:30 – The power of "communication on demand" and weekly planning
• 28:00 – Physical intimacy as a foundation for emotional intimacy
• 30:00 – Couples working together: blending romance with strategy
• 35:30 – How affairs and breakdowns begin: the warning signs
• 38:00 – The bedroom is the sanctuary: why sleeping apart is a red flag
• 41:00 – Resentment, indifference, and relationship repair
• 44:25 – About Gabriela's book and where to learn more

Quotes

· "Your spouse comes first—even before your children, your parents, your business partners. Nothing should come between you."[07:32]

· "When one partner feels like they're getting the leftovers, it's often because they've abandoned the co-creation of the relationship."[16:07]

· "Love is beautiful—but it's not a strategy. Commitment is. Rituals are. Showing up even when you don't feel like it is."[28:30]

Websites:

· fambizforum.com.

· www.chrisyonker.com

• GabrielaEmbon.com
• Gabriela's Book: Becoming a Power Couple
• Gabriela's LinkedIn
• Gabriela's Facebook
• Own Your Choices Own Your Life: The Four Pillars of a Power Couple with Gabriela Embon
• Own Your Creativity: Uncovering Truth in Conflict Gabriela Embon
• Forgive and Thrive: 179 | Essential Tools For Building A Lasting relationship with Gabriela Embon

Secret Thoughts of CEOS Ep. 140

Succession without Sabotage:

How to Pass the Baton and Protect Your Culture with Andy Busser

In this high-level conversation, Chris Yonker interviews Andy Busser, President and CEO of Pitcairn, a multi-family office with a deep legacy of serving ultra-wealthy families. Together, they unpack what it means to lead a family-owned enterprise, especially as a non-family CEO, and how modern governance, culture, and communication influence business longevity.

Andy shares strategic insights and lived experience from both inside and outside the boardroom, including best practices for building fiduciary boards, designing family councils, developing rising generations, and aligning leadership around shared values. From employment policies to emotional landmines, this episode offers a rare look into the psychology, strategy, and heart of enduring family enterprises.

Timestamps

• 02:00 - Meet Andy Busser: from consulting and PE to Pitcairn's CEO
• 07:15 - Working with wealthy families: early client relationships that changed everything
• 11:10 - Educating the next generation: where and how to start the conversation
• 15:45 - Aligning values, interests, and business literacy in rising generations
• 20:00 - Family employment policies and why billion-dollar firms still lack them
• 24:10 - Hiring non-family CEOs and building fiduciary boards
• 28:40 - How to handle founder resistance, power transitions, and board pushback
• 32:20 - Addressing accountability and culture as primary family values
• 36:00 - Philanthropy: how separate pools can create clarity and harmony
• 39:30 - The importance of conflict, clarity, and governance documentation
• 45:15 - Trends in family business: what's changing, and what's still missing
• 50:30 - Why family retreats matter—and how to design them well
• 55:00 - Decision-making frameworks, role clarity, and culture building
• 1:00:00 - Andy's perspective on culture, hiring, and leadership assessments
• 1:04:15 - Where to learn more about Pitcairn and connect with Andy

Quotes

· "If you want to own the business for generations, P&L has to come last. It's not unimportant, it's a byproduct of vision, people, and strategy."[31:30]

· "Problems age like milk, not wine. If you let them fester, they only get worse."[48:10]

· "We're very intentional about the culture we want. Then we hire people who are great carriers of that culture."[60:45]

Websites:

· fambizforum.com.

· www.chrisyonker.com

· Pitcairn.com

Andy Busser President & Chief Executive Officer Bio:

As CEO, Andy is responsible for guiding the firm's client-centric culture and overseeing all of Pitcairn's operations. His vision for the company is to continually evolve the Pitcairn client experience by enhancing the firm's integrated approach to sophisticated family office services for multi-generational families.

Andy has a passion for solving complex problems. He also has a gift for establishing meaningful, lasting professional relationships. These traits were instrumental over the past decade as he spearheaded efforts to make Pitcairn's client experience a standard of excellence for family office service.

His enthusiasm and curiosity inspire the entire Pitcairn team toward an unwavering focus on integration, innovation, and lifelong learning. Though known for his commitment to objective analysis, Andy sees Pitcairn as a driver of growth for both wealth and family relationships. His key priorities for Pitcairn are delivering an outstanding client experience, investing in talent, and leveraging technology.

Andy's previous professional positions positioned him to acquire the knowledge, proficiency, and insight needed to steer a 100-year-old family office into its next century. Before becoming CEO in 2023, he served as Pitcairn's President of Family Office, where he led the firm's team of relationship managers, analysts, and client communications professionals. Prior to joining Pitcairn in 2015, Andy was a partner at Symphony Capital, a healthcare-focused investment manager of private equity and hedge funds, and a management consultant at The Wilkerson Group/Wilkerson Partners.

A steadfast advocate for the importance of helping families become successful stewards of wealth, Andy is an in-demand public speaker and frequently presents at events hosted by industry organizations, such as Family Wealth Alliance, Family Office Exchange, and Family Business Magazine's Transitions and Family Business Legacy conferences. He is also sought out for his industry perspective by the business media and has been quoted in Barron's, Bloomberg, Crain Currency, NPR, Family Business Magazine, and elsewhere. He is also a regular contributor to Forbes where he writes a column about issues relevant to family office operations.

Andy is a member of the Wigmore Association, a global collaboration of chief executive officers and chief investment officers from five leading family offices around the world. Additionally, he has served on multiple boards and is currently on the CEO Council of Family Wealth Alliance and is a trustee of the National Committee on American Foreign Policy.

A graduate of Colgate University, where he majored in history, Andy is naturally creative and enjoys painting, especially landscapes. He is an avid reader and usually travels with a history or economics book in hand. Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Andy, his wife, and two sons now call suburban Philadelphia home. Whenever possible, Andy enjoys skiing in the Rockies or fishing the waters off Cape Cod.

Secret Thoughts of CEOS Ep. 139

Leadership Evolution & Strategy with Nicole Van Valen

In this inspiring and energizing conversation, Chris Yonker sits down with resilience strategist, author, and former NFL and NBA dancer Nicole Van Valen to explore the real ingredients behind sustainable leadership. From burnout recovery to joyful performance, Nicole shares how leaders can build emotional and strategic resilience in today's fast-paced business world.

They also dive into generational shifts in the workplace, the role of joy in high-performance leadership, and how managers can meet employees with empathy while maintaining accountability. Nicole's therapeutic background and executive coaching experience combine to deliver a masterclass on modern leadership for anyone navigating stress, change, or challenge.

Timestamps

• 02:10 – Introducing Nicole Van Valen: therapist, resilience strategist, former pro dancer
• 05:45 – From corporate burnout to joyful leadership
• 07:00 – Joy as a resilience resource: how dance kept Nicole grounded
• 10:45 – Should we do what we're good at or what we love?
• 13:10 – Defining resilience: the basketball metaphor for bouncing forward
• 16:05 – The razor's edge: individual pathways through adversity
• 19:45 – Resilience lessons from COVID and beyond
• 22:15 – Empathy vs. accountability: navigating messy leadership moments
• 28:30 – Cross-generational workplace friction and expectations
• 30:55 – Sick pets, hot days, and what's really going on with your team
• 33:45 – Coaching your team without becoming their therapist
• 36:45 – A surprising example of values-based leadership in action
• 39:00 – Nicole's top tip: put joy on your calendar
• 41:00 – Dessert first: the value of doing what lights you up
• 42:45 – Nicole's book, assessment tool, and free resources

Quotes

· "If you tap into the joys of your life, you're more energized to go into your organization and deliver." - Nicole Van Valen [06:50]

· "Resilience is about bouncing forward. It's having a goal in mind—and a plan for when the stressors come." - Nicole Van Valen [13:15]

· "Empathy doesn't mean we stop holding people accountable. It means we understand where they're coming from." - Nicole Van Valen [24:45]

Websites:

· fambizforum.com.

· www.chrisyonker.com

· KeenInsights.com

· KeenInsights.com/book – The Joyful Leader

· Free Sphere of Resilience Assessment – Take Nicole's 8-domain self-assessment for leaders

Nicole Van Valen, M.S., L.M.F.T., SHRM-SCP is an internationally recognized speaker, consultant, and published author of The Joyful Leader. With more than 25 years of experience across healthcare, behavioral health, and entertainment, she helps executives and organizations navigate stress, build resilient cultures, and lead with greater empathy and impact. Nicole is the Founder and CEO of Keane Insights, where she merges neuroscience, mental health, and leadership strategy to create high-performing, inclusive workplaces. A former Miami Dolphins Cheerleader and Miami HEAT Dancer, she brings unmatched energy and authenticity to her work—championing transformation through joy.

Secret Thoughts of CEOS Ep. 138

Self Awareness & Emotional Intelligence with Stephanie Chung

In this electric and eye-opening episode, Chris Yonker sits down with aviation pioneer and leadership strategist Stephanie Chung to unpack what it truly takes to lead in today's world of diverse teams, generational differences, and ever-shifting business landscapes. Stephanie, the first African American president of a private aviation company in the U.S. and former CGO of Wheels Up, blends boardroom brilliance with neuroscience-backed leadership insight.

From building trust through body language to unlocking innovation by embracing difference, Stephanie shares stories from her jet-fueled career and her newest book Ally Leadership. Whether you're a CEO, a team leader, or a parent navigating complex human dynamics, this episode will stretch your perspective on influence, equity, and modern leadership.

Timestamps

• 01:45 - Meet Kristi Baxter and Chris Yonker: their backgrounds in family business, coaching, 01:45 – Introduction to Stephanie Chung and her aviation leadership journey
• 05:10 – Why we default to leading and selling in our own style - and why it limits us
• 07:15 – Six generations in the workforce: a communication and leadership wake-up call
• 09:45 – How the brain evaluates trust - and the power of facial expressions
• 13:00 – Ask, Listen, Learn, Act: the "ALLY" leadership model and its impact
• 19:00 – Dropping preconceived notions: how bias forms and how to meet people where they are
• 23:00 – Finding business in unlikely places: a story of jet sales and chicken farms
• 29:30 – Navigating generational differences around work-life values
• 33:00 – Meeting dynamics and how to create true psychological safety
• 35:00 – E.A.R.N. Model: How to truly earn allyship as a leader
• 39:00 – Why every team member should walk a mile in another's shoes
• 44:45 – One question every leader should ask to connect personally and meaningfully
• 46:30 – Where to learn more from Stephanie and access her leadership resources

Quotes

· "It's not about how you communicate. It's about how they prefer to be communicated with." [08:25]

· "Bias isn't always bad. But we must be aware of it - especially when we're leading people who aren't like us." [19:30]

· "Employees want leaders who are better communicators. Not just with words, but with presence and action." [44:50]

Websites:

· fambizforum.com.

· www.chrisyonker.com

· StephanieChung.com

· YourAllyInLeadership.com - Sign up for Stephanie's neuroscience-backed leadership newsletter

Stephanie is not just an #1 international best-selling author; she's a force of strategic innovation, a beacon of change, and a titan in the world of business growth and human capital management. With over 30 years of experience, Stephanie has cultivated a reputation for turning challenges into opportunities and transforming growing businesses into thriving hubs of success. In her book, Ally Leadership: How to Lead People Who Are Not Like You, Stephanie Chung provides practical strategies for leaders willing to admit they don't have all the answers, accept that their perspective isn't the only one, and commit to learning about people different from themselves.

Christian Capitalist Podcast

With Rich Sanders

Entrepreneurship as a Calling with Addison Williams

In this episode of the Christian Capitalist Podcast, host Rich Sanders sits down with Addison Williams, Regional Director of Community at Faith Driven Entrepreneur and Faith Driven Investor. Addison shares his powerful journey from the baseball field to the frontlines of Christian entrepreneurship, community building, and kingdom impact. Together, they explore how faith intersects with business, why excellence matters, and how even the smallest act of generosity can ripple through eternity.

Addison discusses the importance of “guarding the hour,” slowing down to reflect, and cultivating meaningful community among entrepreneurs. He offers actionable wisdom on stewardship vs. ownership, finding your “why,” and making work deeply meaningful even in a world full of distraction and pressure to perform. Whether you're a solopreneur, investor, or nonprofit founder, this conversation will refocus your heart on what truly matters.

In This Episode:

• 01:00 Life in Northwest Arkansas & Coaching Youth Softball • 04:00 Faith Driven Entrepreneur: Awakening the Call to Create • 08:00 From Solopreneur to Community: Breaking the Isolation • 13:00 The 12 Marks of a Faith Driven Entrepreneur • 17:00 Excellence vs. Perfectionism in Kingdom Business • 21:00 A Founder’s Heart: Fighting Human Trafficking Through Business • 26:00 Slowing Down: Why Guarding the Hour Changes Everything • 35:00 Marketplace Ministry, Elevators & Divine Interruptions • 46:00 The Call to Stewardship, Generosity & Eternal ROI • 55:30 Addison’s Definition of a Christian Capitalist

Quotes:

• “We all have impact. And we need to respect the impact we’ve been given.” [42:35] • “We don't have to go overseas to be missionaries. The marketplace is the mission field.” [46:00] • “A Christian Capitalist is someone who sews everything together work, generosity, and restoration.” [57:55]

Relevant Links:

·       Christian Capitalist Website

• Faith Driven Entrepreneur: https://www.faithdrivenentrepreneur.org
• Faith Driven Investor: https://www.faithdriveninvestor.org
• The Call to Create (video series): https://faithdrivenentrepreneur.org/content-library/call-to-create
• Join the Faith Driven Newsletter: Newsletter Signup

Books Mentioned: • Start With Why by Simon Sinek • The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer • Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer • Halftime by Bob Buford

Secret Thoughts of CEOS Ep. 137

Succession Beyond the Transition: Gaining confidence while strengthening leadership and family relationships with Kristi Baxter

In this masterclass-style episode, Chris Yonker and Kristi Baxter deliver a powerful, holistic perspective on the complex realities of succession planning. With decades of experience working with privately held and family-owned businesses—from $1M operations to $10B enterprises—Chris and Kristi unpack the emotional, strategic, and structural dimensions of continuity planning.

This session goes far beyond strategy and legal frameworks; it ventures into the inner work required for a successful transition across generations. Whether you're preparing to step back, step in, or steward a legacy across generations, this episode offers the roadmap—and reflection prompts—you need now.

Timestamps

• 01:45 - Meet Kristi Baxter and Chris Yonker: their backgrounds in family business, coaching, and enterprise leadership
• 08:30 - The story of Jeff: when life changes the plan and succession gets real
• 13:10 - Why succession is not an event, but a journey
• 16:30 - The top concerns facing family businesses today
• 21:00 - Common succession mistakes: replacing ourselves, unequal contribution, and CEOs who won't let go
• 29:45 - Should we sell or keep the business? The family-first lens on exit decisions
• 33:15 - Why traditional advisors aren't enough and how to build a holistic team
• 38:10 - Chris & Kristi's five-part succession methodology
• 43:00 - Diving deeper: self-awareness, readiness, and leadership development
• 49:00 - Governance, continuity, and what makes a transition successful
• 54:10 - Blind spots that derail transitions and how to name them
• 59:45 - The importance of facilitating difficult conversations in family systems
• 1:05:30 - Where to begin: tools, surveys, and one powerful question

Quotes

· "Succession isn't an event, it's a journey of stewardship. And the journey starts now." [13:10]

· "You can't build the future with the emotional weight of the past running the show." [53:45]

· "Your organization is only as strong as the people in it. You are in the people business first." [43:15]

Websites:

fambizforum.com.

www.chrisyonker.com

Contact Kristi: [email protected]

Take the Succession Survey

Secret Thoughts of CEOS Ep. 136

What if growth isn't the goal? with Perrin DesPortes

In this deeply reflective and energizing episode, Chris Yonker and Perrin DesPortes engage in a rare bidirectional dialogue, unpacking the hidden costs of ambition, the personal reckoning that comes with burnout, and the awakening that's possible when business success is aligned with inner fulfillment. Perrin, founder of The Next Level Executive, shares his evolution from a high-powered career in dental distribution and M&A to building a purpose-driven coaching practice for healthcare entrepreneurs. Together, they explore the illusions of success, the cultural shifts shaping dentistry and family business today, and how to create a life, and business, you actually want to live in.

This is a conversation about course correction, conscious entrepreneurship, and building legacy from the inside out.

Timestamps

• 02:00 - Meet Perrin DesPortes and his journey from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship
• 08:45 - Chris shares his path out of 3M and into legacy-centered coaching
• 16:15 - Why many entrepreneurs wake up inside a life they don't want
• 22:50 - Burnout, overwork, and boredom: what triggers the desire for change
• 29:40 - Dentistry's consolidation, private equity, and chasing someone else's dream
• 38:10 - The power of clarity: asking "What do I really want?"
• 44:55 - Family business succession, ego, identity, and the real work of letting go
• 52:35 - The sacred role of the advisor: holding discomfort and navigating emotional fire
• 58:00 - Partnerships, misalignment, and the silent cost of avoidance
• 1:04:20 - Entrepreneurship doesn't have to be lonely: the value of coaching and counsel
• 1:09:00 - Resources, next steps, and how to work with Perrin or Chris

Quotes

· "Bored people make bad business decisions because they start chasing a dream that's not even their own."[22:50]

· "Wherever you go, you take yourself with you."[41:35]

· "Entrepreneurship can be a very lonely road - but it doesn't have to be."[1:04:20]

Websites:

fambizforum.com.

www.chrisyonker.com

The Next Level Executive

https://www.facebook.com/PerrinDesPortesNLE

https://www.youtube.com/@PerrinDesPortes

https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetperrin/

Perrin DesPortes is the Founder of The Next Level Executive. He is a Washington & Lee University graduate and earned his MBA from the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina. Perrin has over 25 years of experience in the business side of dentistry, having run three different business units for Patterson Dental Supply over a 15-year career. For the last decade, he has built and exited two very successful start-ups in TUSK Partners and Polaris Healthcare Partners, both of which focus in the Group Practice Consulting and Transactional space. Perrin is happily married with an 11 year-old daughter at home. In his spare time, he is an avid cyclist; enjoys cooking and reading; and loves good red wine and strong coffee.

The Next Level Executive combines Perrin's decades of experience working in Corporate America and consulting directly with healthcare entrepreneurs on their growth journey all distilled into actionable content and practical wisdom.

Next Level Executives have:

· clarity in understanding how their business truly fits together

· confidence in their ability to lead from a position of strength

· an edge to make the right decisions at the right time

If you've mastered practice ownership and are wanting to evolve from "a Clinician who owns a Practice to an Entrepreneur who leads a Business," then you need to focus on your own professional development to become a more effective executive – and becoming a more effective executive is what The Next Level Executive is all about…

Secret Thoughts of CEOS Ep. 135

Legacy in Limbo: Why So Many Leaders Avoid Succession Planning with Dr. Mohanakrishnan Raman

In this eye-opening episode, host Chris Yonker speaks with Dr. Mohanakrishnan Raman, an organizational psychologist and international expert on family business dynamics. With decades of experience consulting Indian family enterprises, Dr. Raman shares how cultural norms, succession planning, and next-gen development intersect in often overlooked ways. The conversation touches on Indian traditions, evolving gender roles, leadership readiness, and the emotional complexity of legacy handoffs. Whether you're in a family-run business or leading succession elsewhere, this episode is packed with deeply human—and highly strategic—insights.

Timestamps

• 02:00 – Meet Dr. Mohanakrishnan Raman
• 07:35 – Realizing the influence of family systems in OD work
• 11:55 – Cultural inheritance, COVID's impact, and India's family business awakening
• 18:10 – Gender, legal reforms, and complexities in succession structures
• 24:00 – Case studies: sibling tension, conflicting interests, and decentralizing roles
• 37:15 – The 3 Capitals: Financial, Knowledge, and Social – and why they matter
• 42:40 – Creating learning journeys through values, mentorship, and exposure
• 54:10 – The tension between honoring legacy vs. pursuing personal calling

Quotes

· "To win the relay race, you have to hand over at the right spot, at the right time, and at the right speed."[59:30]

· "The current generation is coming from abundance. The previous one came from scarcity. Their motivations—and expectations—are fundamentally different."[53:00]

· "When designing a succession plan, you're not just training for business. You're transferring values, identity, and a legacy of relationships."[39:50]

Websites:

fambizforum.com.

www.chrisyonker.com.

Resources & Links:

· Connect with Dr. Raman on LinkedIn: Mohanakrishnan Raman

Secret Thoughts of CEOS Ep. 134

Navigating Change: Insights for Family Business Leaders with Dr. Barrett C. Brown

In this powerful episode, Chris Yonker is joined by global executive advisor and developmental strategist, Dr. Barrett Brown, for a profound and eye-opening conversation about what it really takes to lead in today's ever-accelerating world. With experience working across six continents and coaching C-suite executives through high-stakes transformation, Dr. Brown brings hard-earned wisdom about the inner capacities required for high-impact, conscious leadership.

Together, Chris and Barrett explore:

Timestamps

· 08:21 Navigating Complex Leadership Challenges

· 20:58 Decision Making in Complex Environments

· 39:50 Balancing Work and Life in Family Businesses

· 46:42 Navigating Succession with Competing Visions

· 49:46 The Empowerment Dynamic and Low Drama Culture

· 52:34 Masculine Compassion in the Workplace

· 54:07 Coaching and Developing the Younger Generation

Quotes

· "Life is like a grindstone—it either grinds you into dust or polishes you into a diamond."[13:45]

· "The world is never going to be a psychologically safe environment where we can just fully show up without any threat… The superpower is to be deeply at peace in the midst of intensity." [24:12]

· "Every time I get triggered or frustrated or irritated or judgmental—that is 100% my own inner game. That's where I have the greatest power."[1:16:35]

Websites:

fambizforum.com.

www.chrisyonker.com.

Resources & Links:

• Dr. Barrett Brown's Work: https://apheno.com
• Recommended Reading: The Future of Leadership for Conscious Capitalism by Barrett Brown

Dr. Barrett C. Brown Bio

Dr. Barrett C. Brown is a global expert on how to develop leaders to successfully navigate complex challenges and rapid change. Barrett works across six continents with C-suite executives and teams from Fortune 500 companies and international non-profits. He has lived in The Netherlands, Brazil and throughout the US, and has worked and traveled in nearly 40 countries.

Barrett is a regular advisor and senior faculty for a global tech company as well as the largest environmental NGO in the world. With them, he focuses on how leaders can better manage complexity and drive transformational change. He also serves as the executive coach for a select group of senior leaders. He has delivered dozens of keynotes and leadership programs for 5000+ CEOs, organizational leaders, and government officials. He has co-designed and delivered executive development, team development and/or strategic alignment programs for some of the largest technology, engineering, healthcare, sportswear, and consumer goods companies in the world - as well as for major environmental and social NGOs.

Barrett holds a PhD in Human and Organizational Systems and also has over a decade experience advising on and leading strategic visioning, execution, and change initiatives for US, Dutch, British, and Brazilian companies and institutions.

Barrett's award-winning research on the future of leadership has been used in executive education programs worldwide, including the Yale MBA. He produced an award-winning business case study on a large-scale market transformation program he helped lead - in partnership with Unilever and Rainforest Alliance - that is used in business schools globally.

Barrett's writings on leadership and sustainability have been translated into 6 languages, have been used in the United Nations system, and have been included in half a dozen mainstream leadership books.

Barrett served on the selection committee of the Katerva Awards - considered the Nobel Prize for sustainability - and has held consultancy status to the United Nations. He has delivered leadership briefings and presentations at global tech companies, the Conscious Capitalism CEO Summit, the Society for Organizational Learning European Summit, Esalen Institute, the National Bioneers Conference, the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development, the US Department of State, the Inter-American Development Bank and UNDP headquarters.

Originally from the Green Mountains of Vermont, Barrett lives near a 300,000 year old volcanic crater in Hawaii.

Secret Thoughts of CEOS Ep. 133

Navigating Legacy and Wealth in Family Business with Jason Smith

In this powerful episode, host Chris Yonker sits down with Jason L Smith, founder of JL Smith Group, author of The Bucket Plan, and a nationally recognized financial advisor. Jason opens up about being fired by his own father, building a purpose-driven business from the ground up, and the holistic philosophy that now guides his wealth management firm—which oversees more than $4 billion in assets. Jason also shares deeply personal stories about resilience, raising grounded kids, and how intentional structure and values shape both his legacy and his clients'.

Timestamps

• 03:30 – Jason's origin story: Fired by his dad, starting from scratch
• 14:20 – "Everything's fine" vs. proactive planning: health + financial parallels
• 22:45 – The biggest tax mistake business owners make
• 34:00 – Educating next-gens: Financial stewardship in action
• 41:45 – The Bucket Plan: Now, Soon, Later framework
• 53:15 – Self-worth after financial collapse and bouncing back

Quotes

· "I'm actually the youngest of 11 and, um, it was a mixed marriage like my mom and dad, you know, both had kids came together and had me kinda like the Brady Bunch and I was like, uh, Alice or the dog."[03:24]

· "Yeah, I. I. I feel like unfortunately our educational system is pretty broken in, in, in regards to teaching basic, you know, financial literacy, right?" [27:32]

· "And my top five are the top five most important things to me, like my true north in life. And you know, my top five is number one is health. Mind, body, and soul. Number two is Holly, my wife. Number three is my kids. Number four is my family and friends. And number five is leading and learning." [48:45]

Websites:

fambizforum.com.

www.chrisyonker.com.

jlsmithgroup.com

Buy "The Bucket Plan" book Bucket-Plan®

Facebook: @JLSmithGroup

Instagram: @jl_smith_holistic_wealth

LinkedIn: @JLSmithGroup