Grow Your Business and Grow Your Wealth

When AI Goes Rogue Who Is LiableArtificial intelligence is transforming business, but what happens when technology makes a decision that causes real harm? Who should be held responsible: the developer, the company using it, or the people who trusted it?In this episode of Grow Your Business and Grow Your Wealth, host Gary Heldt welcomes Douglas J. Wood, Principal of the Law Offices of Douglas J. Wood, PLLC, award-winning author, and former partner at a global law firm with more than four decades of legal experience.Douglas joins Gary for a fascinating conversation about artificial intelligence, legal accountability, and the growing challenges facing businesses as technology advances.His newest thriller, Deadly Bytes, explores these questions through a suspenseful story involving a murderer who creates an advanced artificial intelligence system to stay ahead of an FBI investigation. While the story is fictional, Douglas draws on extensive research and his legal background to create scenarios that challenge readers to consider what could happen in the real world.Gary and Douglas discuss the growing reliance on AI, the consequences of inaccurate or unexpected outputs, and the difficulty of establishing legal responsibility when autonomous systems behave in unintended ways. Douglas explains why the pace of technological innovation presents such a challenge for legislation, courts, businesses, and regulators.The conversation also takes a personal turn as Douglas discusses his transition from a successful legal career into writing award-winning thrillers. He shares how early rejection delayed his pursuit of fiction, why research is essential to his storytelling, and how he uses artificial intelligence as a tool without allowing it to replace his creativity or professional judgment.For entrepreneurs and business leaders, the conversation delivers a timely reminder: Technology can support decision-making, but human responsibility cannot simply be automated away.Key TakeawaysAccountability remains a central challenge. Douglas examines who could be legally responsible when AI causes harm or behaves unexpectedly.Technology and the law move at different speeds. Advances in artificial intelligence raise questions that courts, lawmakers, and businesses are still working to address.Human oversight matters. Automated answers and decisions still require verification, judgment, and appropriate safeguards.AI can be a tool without replacing expertise. Douglas explains how he uses technology for research while relying on expert interviews and personal experience.Professional reinvention can lead to a new chapter. Douglas shares how he moved from a long legal career into writing novels built around his passion for storytelling.About Douglas J. WoodDouglas J. Wood is the Principal of the Law Offices of Douglas J. Wood, PLLC, an award-winning author, and a former global law firm partner with more than 45 years of experience in entertainment, media, and advertising law. His newest thriller, Deadly Bytes, explores artificial intelligence, human behavior, and questions of legal responsibility.Connect with Douglas J. WoodWebsite: https://douglasjwood.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/djwood1976/Explore his novels, including Deadly Bytes, through his official website.Connect with Gary HeldtSmall Business Advisors: https://www.sbadvisors.cc/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-d-heldt-jr/Listen and SubscribeGrow Your Business and Grow Your Wealth on Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grow-your-business-and-grow-your-wealth/id1521874291Disclaimer: This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, tax, investment, or other professional advice. The opinions expressed by guests are their own. Consult qualified professionals regarding your individual circumstances.

Why do people continue making financial decisions they know are hurting them?For Dr. Erika Rasure, the answer often has very little to do with understanding the numbers.In this episode of Grow Your Business & Grow Your Wealth, Gary Heldt sits down with Dr. Erika Rasure, Chief Financial Wellness Advisor at Beyond Finance, Certified Financial Therapist, and Transformational Coach, to explore the emotional and behavioral side of money.Dr. Erika explains why financial habits are often emotional habits, how childhood experiences influence our relationship with money, and why traditional financial education alone may not create lasting change.Gary and Erika discuss impulse spending, debt, financial stress, inherited money beliefs, delayed gratification, and the fear many people have that they are financially behind everyone else.They also explore why people can know they should budget, save, invest, and reduce debt yet still struggle to actually do those things consistently.Dr. Erika shares how financial therapy looks at the emotional, relational, cognitive, and behavioral aspects of money and helps people understand what may be driving their decisions beneath the surface.The conversation also turns to raising financially confident children. Erika encourages parents to talk openly about money, involve children in age-appropriate financial decisions, and even share some of their own financial mistakes rather than pretending they always had everything figured out.Perhaps the most powerful idea comes near the end of the conversation, when Erika explains that financial confidence isn't built through motivation alone.It is built through evidence.Every successful decision becomes evidence that you can trust yourself to make another one.This conversation is a powerful reminder that building wealth isn't only about knowing what to do with your money.Sometimes it begins with understanding why you do what you do with it.KEY TAKEAWAYS• Money is more than math. Financial decisions are influenced by emotions, experiences, relationships, and learned behaviors.• Knowing what to do doesn't guarantee that we will do it. Many people already understand that they should save, invest, budget, and reduce debt. Behavior is often the missing piece.• Impulse spending may be solving an emotional problem. Shopping can provide an immediate dopamine response, even when the purchase conflicts with long-term financial goals.• Our money beliefs start early. Childhood experiences and family attitudes about money can continue influencing financial decisions well into adulthood.• Financial goals work better when connected to personal values. Saving an emergency fund becomes more meaningful when someone connects it to a deeper value such as security or stability.• Money shame keeps people stuck. People often avoid asking for financial help because they believe they should already know the answers or fear they are behind their peers.• Parents need to talk about money. Children benefit from seeing money discussed, practiced, and managed rather than treated as a taboo subject.• Financial confidence is built through evidence. Small successful financial decisions create proof that we can trust ourselves to make better decisions in the future.CONNECT WITH DR. ERIKA RASURELinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/erikarasure/Beyond Financehttps://www.beyondfinance.com/Dr. Erika also recommends the Financial Therapy Association for people interested in learning more about Certified Financial Therapists.CONNECT WITH GARY HELDT https://www.sbadvisors.cc/Listen to Grow Your Business & Grow Your Wealth for conversations with entrepreneurs, financial professionals, business leaders, and experts helping business owners build stronger companies and greater long-term wealth.

Your business may be your greatest asset. It may also hold most of your financial risk.In this episode of Grow Your Business & Grow Your Wealth, Gary Heldt speaks with Alexey Sokolov, a Northwestern Mutual financial advisor who co-founded and sold Grid Capital. Alexey explains how building and selling his own company changed the way he thinks about protecting wealth.Gary and Alexey discuss a problem many successful founders overlook: their income, company value, and personal investments can all depend on the same industry. If conditions change, those assets may fall together. They also explore why having substantial assets does not always mean having cash available when you need it.Alexey shares why tax and investment decisions deserve attention well before a business sale. He explains “tax drag,” examines the role of bonds in a portfolio, and makes the case for bringing a CPA, attorney, and financial advisor into the conversation early. For business owners, the question is bigger than what the company might sell for. It is how to manage what you have built, both before and after an exit.About Alexey SokolovAlexey Sokolov is a financial advisor with Northwestern Mutual in Los Angeles. Before becoming an advisor, he co-founded Grid Capital, a regulated investment platform that he later sold. He works with founders, business owners, investors, and professionals on wealth planning, concentrated holdings, and business transitions.Connect with AlexeyEmail: [email protected]://www.linkedin.com/in/alexeysokolovnm/Connect with Gary HeldtWebsite: https://www.sbadvisors.cc/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-d-heldt-jr/Schedule a conversation: https://calendly.com/gheldt21054/podcast-follow-up-conversationListen and subscribeGrow Your Business & Grow Your Wealth: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grow-your-business-and-grow-your-wealth/id1521874291This episode is for educational purposes and does not constitute individualized financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Consult qualified professionals about your circumstances.

The Winning Playbook for Business ReinventionWhat happens when the career you worked years to build suddenly ends?Jack Oujo spent eight years pursuing his dream of becoming a Major League Baseball umpire, advancing to Triple-A before an unexpected setback forced him to reinvent his future. He went on to become a CPA, build Oujo Wealth Strategies into one of the nation’s largest tax-focused wealth management firms, and oversee approximately $900 million in assets under management.In this episode, Jack joins Gary to share how the discipline, pressure, teamwork, and resilience he learned in professional baseball helped him build an extraordinarily successful financial services business. He explains why business owners need a Plan B, how numbers can remove emotion from major decisions, and why developing strong processes and people is essential for sustainable growth.Jack also discusses the difficulty of letting go, the importance of preparing employees to lead, and how business owners can create a meaningful life after selling the company that once defined them.What You’ll LearnHow Jack rebuilt his life after his baseball career endedWhy every entrepreneur should prepare for worst-case scenariosHow financial projections can make difficult decisions less emotionalWhy business owners must stop doing everything themselvesHow documented processes support business growthWhy coaching employees is one of a leader’s most important responsibilitiesHow exceptional service creates loyal clients and valuable referralsWhat Jack learned from building and eventually selling his firmWhy gratitude matters when transitioning into the next chapter of lifeFeatured Quote“You only get respect by giving respect.”— Jack OujoAbout Jack OujoJack Oujo is the founder of Oujo Wealth Strategies, one of the nation’s largest tax-focused wealth management firms, and the bestselling author of Too Smart to Be an Umpire. Before becoming one of the country’s top financial advisors, Jack spent eight years pursuing his dream of becoming a Major League Baseball umpire, advancing to Triple-A before an unexpected setback changed his life.His journey from career disappointment to extraordinary business success offers a powerful lesson in resilience, reinvention, leadership, and building a meaningful legacy.Learn more about Jack and purchase Too Smart to Be an Umpire:https://toosmarttobeanumpire.com/Listen, follow, and subscribe to Grow Your Business & Grow Your Wealth:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grow-your-business-and-grow-your-wealth/id1521874291This episode is provided for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, tax, investment, or legal advice. Please consult an appropriately qualified professional regarding your individual circumstances.

When most people hear the word franchise, they picture fast food. But some of today’s most compelling franchise opportunities are found in less glamorous industries such as home services, senior care, pet care, youth programs, property services, and business-to-business solutions.In this episode, Gary Heldt speaks with Jon Ostenson, CEO of FranBridge Consulting, about why entrepreneurs and investors are increasingly exploring non-food franchises. Jon explains how franchise buyers can evaluate opportunities based on their finances, experience, desired level of involvement, local market, and long-term goals.Jon also challenges the idea that a franchise can be completely passive. He explains why “semi-involved” is more realistic, what separates successful franchisees from struggling owners, and why following the franchisor’s proven system matters.Gary and Jon also discuss franchise funding, support systems, due diligence, franchise stacking, and how essential service businesses may be better positioned to withstand economic uncertainty and technological disruption.What You’ll LearnWhy non-food franchises are attracting entrepreneurs and investorsWhich service-based franchise categories are growingHow to determine whether a franchise fits your skills and lifestyleWhy a franchise should never be considered completely passiveWhat successful franchisees do differentlyHow franchise owners learn from one another without directly competingThe difference between a franchise consultant and a business brokerHow SBA loans and retirement rollovers may be used for franchise fundingWhy reviewing the Franchise Disclosure Document is only one part of due diligenceHow franchise stacking can help owners expand and diversifyGuest BioJon Ostenson is the CEO of FranBridge Consulting, a top 1% franchise broker, investor, author, and Forbes contributor. After serving as President of a national Inc. 500 franchise system with more than 200 locations, Jon has helped thousands of entrepreneurs and investors explore franchise ownership. He specializes in non-food franchising, helping people identify scalable business opportunities that fit their goals, finances, experience, and lifestyle.HeldtConnect With Jon OstensonWebsite: FranBridgeConsulting.comLinkedIn: Jon OstensonEmail: [email protected] book: Visit FranBridge Consulting to request a complimentary copy of Jon’s book, Non-Food Franchising.Looking to learn more about Gary Heldt? Visit Small Business Advisors for more information.Home | Small Business Advisors