From Busy to Rich

In this episode of From Busy to Rich, Wes sits down with Caleb Guilliams—founder of Better Wealth—for a powerful conversation on growth, leverage, and building a business that attracts opportunity instead of chasing it. From taking over a bank’s investment department at 19 to building a multi-billion dollar life insurance platform, Caleb shares the mindset and frameworks that shaped his journey. But this conversation goes beyond business—it’s about intentional living, creating real value, and making the most of your one life. In This Episode We Cover: How to build a business that attracts clients instead of chasing them The concept of value leveraging (and why most people miss it) Why intentional living—not money—is the real definition of wealth The 3 questions that create clarity and drive growth Sign up for the Life Insurance Summit Event here: https://lifeinsurancesummit.com/

In this episode of From Busy to Rich, Justin and Wes tackle one of the biggest shifts happening in the advisory space right now: AI. Not the hype. Not the fear.What’s actually happening inside real practices—and what it means for your future. The reality? Advisors aren’t being replaced by AI…They’re being replaced by advisors who know how to use it. Wes shares how their team is actively integrating AI into their workflow—from client summaries to planning efficiency—and how it’s already saving massive amounts of time while improving output quality. They also break down: How AI is shifting client expectations Why resisting change is more dangerous than getting it wrong The real risk: identity, not technology How to use AI without becoming overly reliant on it A simple way to start using AI this week If you want to stay relevant—and ahead—this is a conversation you can’t afford to ignore. Explore the book: Beautiful Savage Connect with us: Instagram X Facebook LinkedIn Youtube  Wes Young Live Website  Submit a Podcast Question here!

In this episode of From Busy to Rich, Justin Lakin sits down with Wes Young to continue the conversation around Beautiful Savage—this time exploring the story behind the framework. They discuss why the book is structured as both a narrative and a practical guide, how mentors and relationships shaped Wes’s journey, and why curiosity is one of the most important traits for sustained growth. You’ll also hear how success can quietly create blind spots, and why using 90-day cycles is one of the most effective ways to turn ideas into action. If you want to keep growing—even when things are already going well—this episode will challenge how you think. In This Episode, We Cover: Why Beautiful Savage is structured as both a story and a framework The role of mentors, “who not how,” and learning from others The danger of success-induced blindness and how it shows up Why curiosity is a key guardrail against arrogance How to stay a learner—even when you’re already successful Why 90-day cycles are critical for real growth and execution Explore the book: Beautiful Savage Connect with us: Instagram X Facebook LinkedIn Youtube  Wes Young Live Website  Submit a Podcast Question here!

Have you ever walked out of a client meeting feeling great about the connection, only to realize later that you forgot to discuss a key tax strategy or important planning opportunity? What if there was a way to capture all your thinking before meetings so your brain could focus on what it does best: connecting with clients and creating value? In this episode, Justin Lakin and Wes Young continue the tech-powered planning series and introduce the Master Plan Template, a framework designed to help financial advisors externalize their thinking and reduce cognitive load. They discuss the three core pillars of the master plan: optimizing family income, accelerating business value and family bank velocity, and enriching family legacy.  Wes and Justin explain how this one-page living document captures everything advisors know about their clients' stories, allowing them to prepare efficiently and show up fully present in meetings without the anxiety of forgetting critical details. They discuss: The common problem of being a "professional visitor" who has great meetings but struggles to get critical things done How cognitive load from trying to remember everything affects advisor performance and client outcomes The three pillars of the master plan: family income optimization, business value acceleration, and family legacy enrichment Why the master plan is a one-page internal tool, not a client-facing document, designed to capture context and story The Mind Vault Method of recording yourself walking through each master plan to give your future self a gift And more! Resources: Submit your questions here Getting Things Done by David Allen Download the Master Plan Template Transform Learning Series Other Listening Platforms: Listen on Apple Podcasts Stream on Spotify Watch on YouTube Connect with Us: Instagram X Facebook LinkedIn Youtube  Wes Young Live Website

Some advisors seem born with bold voices — but most are still whispering in thecorner. In this episode, hosts Justin Lakin and Wes Young sit down with Matt Halloran, co-founder of ProudMouth and creator of Sonic Boom Coaching, to unpack one of themost uncomfortable (and essential) topics in growth: resistance. They explore whywe avoid change, why good marketing often falls flat, and what it really takes tobuild and scale your influence. This episode isn’t a pitch; it’s a call to leadership. If you’ve ever felt stuck behind thescenes in your business, this one’s for you. What to expect: Why most advisors think they’re good at marketing, but aren’t The three mindset barriers keeping you from real progress (fear, fatigue, andarrogance) The five returns on podcasting and why downloads aren’t one of them How to build a brand worth talking about (and coaching tips to get there) And more! Resources: Submit your questions here Transform Learning Series “The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield “10x Is Easier Than 2x” by Dan Sullivan & Dr. Benjamin Hardy Other Listening Platforms: Listen on Apple Podcasts Stream on Spotify Watch on YouTube Connect with Us: Instagram X Facebook LinkedIn Youtube  Wes Young Live Website Connect with Matt Halloran: ProudMouth LinkedIn: Matt Halloran matt@proudmouth.com Calendly: Matt Halloran

Nobody talks about the 15 prep meetings they did before a client call, but they do remember the one where everything just clicked.  In this episode, host Wes Young and co-host Justin Lakin unpack the Mind Vault Method: a repeatable, tech-enabled strategy that transforms advisor meeting prep from exhausting and chaotic to focused, creative, and scalable. You’ll hear how this method was born from burnout, why Loom videos beat Monday marathons, and how paraplanners can level up into strategic thinkers using real-time feedback loops. They also share a four-question framework to ensure every client meeting delivers clarity, direction, and energy for both the client and the advisor. What to expect from their conversation: How to reduce prep fatigue and scale team-wide clarity Why is creative energy > administrative energy in client work The Mind Vault method step-by-step (tools, templates, timing) Advisor development strategies that deepen firm-wide bench strength Resources: Submit your podcast question here! Transform your practice! Previous Episodes of Interest: Setting Expectations: How to Define Planning ROI Early Innovation That Sticks: Our 4-Step Framework for Change Heritage vs. Inheritance: Legacy Conversations That Stick Other Listening Platforms: Listen on Apple Podcasts Stream on Spotify Watch on YouTube Connect with Us: Instagram X Facebook LinkedIn Youtube  Wes Young Live Website

Nobody talks about their diversified asset allocation at a dinner party, but they do talk about the tax strategy their advisor helped them implement to save thousands. In this episode, host Wes Young and co-host Justin Lakin dive deep into why most advisors are missing the boat on one of the biggest opportunities in holistic planning: proactive tax intelligence. You’ll hear why tax strategy often falls in the “too hard” pile, how to shift from avoidance to opportunity, and what tools and frameworks you can use to bring immediate value to clients, without crossing compliance lines or becoming a CPA. Wes also shares a powerful mindset shift: when you start seeing the tax code as a playbook instead of a problem, you unlock a new level of client transformation and professional referability. What to expect from their conversation: Why most advisors avoid tax planning (and how to stand out if you don’t) Tools like Holistiplan, narratives checklists, and Q4 strategy sessions Tips for integrating CPAs and navigating pushback with confidence Practical tax concepts to build referability and efficiency Resources: Submit your podcast question here! Transform your practice! Previous Episodes of Interest: Setting Expectations: How to Define Planning ROI Early Heritage vs. Inheritance: Legacy Conversations That Stick Making a Family Bank Work for Real Life Other Listening Platforms: Listen on Apple Podcasts Stream on Spotify Watch on YouTube Connect with Us: Instagram X Facebook LinkedIn Youtube  Wes Young Live Website

What happens when business partners don’t plan for the unexpected? In this episode of From Busy to Rich, host Wes Young and co-host Justin Lakin tackle a complex but critical aspect of estate planning: what happens to a business when one partner passes away, and how to avoid the unintended consequences that can follow. Wes shares real-life stories of business owners who lacked buy-sell agreements, revealing how the absence of clear planning can lead to friction, stalled growth, and strained family dynamics. The conversation expands beyond logistics to explore how business owners can intentionally pass down values, expectations, and vision, creating not just an inheritance but a living heritage. What to expect from their conversation: How to structure a business-focused estate planning conversation Common planning gaps that lead to family conflict or business strain Buy-sell agreements, key person insurance, and optional property agreements How to turn business planning into a tool for heritage and leadership Resources: Submit your podcast question here! Transform your practice! Previous Episodes of Interest:  The New Client Experience: Location  The New Client Experience: Expectation  The New Client Experience: Direction - Increasing Family Bank Velocity The New Client Experience: Direction - Unleashing Human Potential Other Listening Platforms: Listen on Apple Podcasts Stream on Spotify Watch on YouTube Connect with Us: Instagram X Facebook LinkedIn Youtube  Wes Young Live Website

What happens after the estate plan is written?  In this episode of From Busy to Rich, host Wes Young and co-host Justin Lakin unpack the essential conversations financial advisors must lead during the Direction Phase, especially those around inheritance, legacy, and the deeper meaning of heritage. Wes shares powerful stories contrasting the Vanderbilt and Rockefeller family legacies, offering real-world examples of how planning, or lack thereof, can shape generational outcomes. Together, Justin and Wes break down their team’s meeting structure, tools like Planning Shepherd, and how they help clients visualize the impact of estate decisions on income and legacy. What to expect from their conversation: The difference between inheritance (assets) and heritage (values and vision) How to present estate flow and income replacement scenarios A repeatable meeting format for guiding estate and heritage discussions Creative ways to help clients build a living “Family Constitution” Resources: Submit your podcast question here! Previous Episodes of Interest:  The New Client Experience: Location  The New Client Experience: Expectation  The New Client Experience: Direction - Increasing Family Bank Velocity Other Listening Platforms: Listen on Apple Podcasts Stream on Spotify Watch on YouTube Connect with Us: Instagram X Facebook LinkedIn Youtube  Wes Young Live Website

What’s next after a client says “yes” to working with you? In this episode of From Busy to Rich, host Wes Young and co-host  Justin Lakin unpack the Direction Phase, the pivotal point where ideas turn into actionable steps. Tune in to learn how financial advisors can simplify complex strategies, set clear expectations, and avoid overwhelming clients with information overload. What to expect: How to keep clients focused without overwhelming them The role of recurring meetings and strategy summaries Navigating fixed vs. variable assets in volatile markets Building client confidence through discipline and simplicity Resources: Submit your podcast question here! Transform your practice!  E167 - The New Client Experience: Location  E169 - The New Client Experience: Expectation Other Listening Platforms: Listen on Apple Podcasts Stream on Spotify Watch on YouTube Connect with Us: Instagram X Facebook LinkedIn Youtube  Wes Young Live Website

What makes a client stay, year after year? In this episode, host Wes Young and co-host Justin Lakin break down the Expectation Phase of their onboarding process. It is not just about earning trust. It is about clearly defining the planning relationship, setting the rhythm for ongoing engagement, and making the value of your work obvious from day one. From high-impact tax strategies like S-corp elections and the Augusta Rule to powerful mindset reframes around balance sheets and family legacies, Justin and Wes walk through how to deliver a transformational planning experience before the ink is dry. What to expect in this episode: How to define expectations and build long-term engagement The difference between planning versus a plan, and why it matters Ways to immediately demonstrate ROI through tax ideas Tools like Planning Shepherd and strategy summaries to elevate the client experience Resources: Submit your podcast question here! The Transform Learning Series E167- The New Client Experience: Location Other Listening Platforms: Listen on Apple Podcasts Stream on Spotify Watch on YouTube Connect with Us: Instagram X Facebook LinkedIn Youtube  Wes Young Live Website

When you're lost, the first thing you look for is a red dot on a map that says: “You are here.”  In this episode of From Busy to Rich, host Wes Young and co-host Justin Lakin walk financial advisors through the “location phase,” the very first step in their client onboarding process that transforms initial meetings into transformational ones. They break down how to replace clunky fact-finding with engaging conversation, using psychology, clear language, and a four-part framework: welcome, common ground, healthy tension, and next steps. Whether you’re brand new to planning or a seasoned advisor, this episode gives you a replicable script and a strategy that builds trust and increases client engagement without feeling like a sales pitch. What to expect: How to open meetings with clarity and calm Why “tell me about” is more powerful than interrogation Tools to streamline and digitize the onboarding process The mindset shift that makes people knock on your door Resources: Submit your podcast question here! Other Listening Platforms: Listen on Apple Podcasts Stream on Spotify Watch on YouTube Connect with Us: Instagram X Facebook LinkedIn Youtube  Wes Young Live Website