Money Stories

Aaron Houghton built and sold a tech company for $169 million before his 30th birthday. At its peak, his business was generating $50 million in recurring revenue and employing over 350 people. But behind the scenes, he was unraveling. Chronic stress and panic attacks revealed a hard truth he could no longer outrun. The version of success he was chasing was costing him his health and his peace. In this conversation, Aaron opens up about the hidden toll of hypergrowth and the internal reckoning that followed his exit. He shares how he rebuilt his career and his sense of identity, and why he now believes peak performance has less to do with hustle and more to do with pace. We unpack: • The invisible pressure to always be the one with answers • How Aaron went from constant intensity to sustainable performance • Why the rebuild can be more powerful than the rise • The real story behind life after a big exit • The power of knowing your redline and honoring it About Aaron Houghton: Aaron has built and sold multiple tech companies, pushing himself to the absolute limit. Realizing his success came with hidden costs, he turned his focus to what really matters. Building a sustainable life from the inside out. Today Aaron helps high-performing founders manage stress without losing themselves in the process. He is developing tools, mentoring entrepreneurs, and writing a book to share what he has learned. His mission is simple: stay ambitious without burning out. Connect with Aaron: Website: https://www.aaronhoughton.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronhoughton/ Check out DORY where Aaron helps high-pressure leaders turn into superhuman mental athletes who survive better and never burn out. https://www.instagram.com/thrivewithdory https://www.thrivewithdory.com Free Optimal Pace assessment for leaders: https://entry.thrivewithdory.com/optimalpace/start

Marshall Hayes grew up in rural Oregon learning about money from a handwritten ledger his dad kept on a yellow pad. Those early lessons sparked a fascination with investing and entrepreneurship that led him from cleaning bathrooms to building and selling a multimillion dollar marketing agency. For years, he chased success at all costs. The business grew fast, but behind the scenes, he was burning out, losing his relationship, and unraveling under the weight of anxiety and perfectionism. When everything collapsed, Marshall realized that achievement meant nothing if it came at the expense of peace. What followed was a rebuild. Today, he helps other founders find confidence, balance, and freedom, without losing themselves in the process. This episode explores: How unprocessed pain can silently power your ambition The power of reflection and self awareness The value of finding happiness outside of money Why future earning potential is the overlooked pillar of wealth A new definition of wealth measured in energy, not earnings About Marshall Hayes: Marshall Hayes is a seasoned entrepreneur turned executive coach with a passion for the Founder journey. He empowers Founder/CEOs who have their footing in business ($10M - $100M+ in Rev) to structure their business in a way that allows them to live the life that they really want to live. Drawing from a blend of frameworks around personal growth and business - including Conscious Leadership, Authentic Relating, and Traction - Marshall helps Founders/CEOs access deeper relationships with themselves, their spouses, and the people that matter to them. Connect with Marshall: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marshallphayes/ Check out the party game he created: https://pickmeupgame.com/ _________ Did something in this episode resonate with you? Check out Unbreakable Wealth, a private community for conscious entrepreneurs, high performers, and athletes ready to build multidimensional wealth beyond just money. It is the space for the conversations you cannot have anywhere else. If you are ready to live, lead, and build from alignment, you are in the right place. Learn more and apply now: https://go.unbreakablewealth.com/vsl-long

Dr. Vassily Eliopoulos (Dr. Vass) spent more than a decade working in emergency rooms, treating people in moments that stripped away everything nonessential. Again and again, he sat beside patients who were facing the end and spoke the kind of truth that only becomes possible when there is no time left to pretend. Those moments became his teacher. In this conversation, Vass shares the quiet lessons that most of us miss in the noise. He speaks not just as a physician, but as someone who had to confront his own limits. His story is a call to reconsider what health really means, and why a longer life means nothing if it is built on the wrong foundations. We unpack: • The regrets people name most often in their final hours • Why many definitions of success leave us disconnected and exhausted • What longevity actually requires beyond labs and protocols • How connection and self-trust outperform any treatment plan • The practices that rebuild wholeness from the inside out About Dr. Vass: Dr. Vass is the Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Longevity Health, Board Certified in Emergency Medicine, and trained at Cornell University Medical College and the University of Colorado. After serving in the Peace Corps and working with the WHO, he spent over a decade in traditional healthcare before shifting to functional and regenerative medicine to focus on prevention, optimization, and longevity. Originally from Westchester, New York, he balances his medical mission with a lifelong passion for grappling—winning national and world titles in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu—as well as rock and ice climbing and whitewater kayaking. Connect with Dr. Vass: Learn more about Dr. Vass's Approach to Medicine: https://longevityhealth.clinic/doctor_vass_approach?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAac8lr0_t-FhY7uujpTzld6NF0Mv6ZzU00_Ybuo5dJFm0NsNHXyhbonkEMtjHw_aem_TWEgcjy8oNoys1BfXfxPBA Website: https://www.longevityhealth.clinic/ Instagram:: https://www.instagram.com/dr.vassily/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vassily-eliopoulos-m-d-5b8015143/ _________ Did something in this episode resonate with you? Check out Unbreakable Wealth, a private community for conscious entrepreneurs, high performers, and athletes ready to build multidimensional wealth beyond just money. It is the space for the conversations you cannot have anywhere else. If you are ready to live, lead, and build from alignment, you are in the right place. Learn more and apply now: https://go.unbreakablewealth.com/vsl-long

Melanie Balke has built a life most entrepreneurs chase for years. Her business is thriving, her team is energized, and her days move with clarity and intention. She surfs, leads with presence, and shapes her calendar around the rhythm that brings out her best work. Her path reflects more than strategy. It is an identity shift rooted in emotional wealth, sustainable leadership, and the freedom to live life on her terms. This is the inner game of building something that lasts without losing yourself in the process. In this episode, we unpack: • How chasing success shaped her identity and nearly cost her everything • The mindset shifts that unlocked deeper trust and better leadership • Why slowing down made her a better leader • How she reshaped her business to support a sustainable life • Why she feels hustle culture can suppress the creativity of female founders • What real freedom looks like for a founder in full alignment About Melanie Balke: Melanie Balke is the founder of The Email Marketers, a retention marketing agency helping e-commerce brands build loyalty through email, SMS, and customer experience. She has grown the company into a seven-figure business by focusing on sustainable, relationship-driven growth that supports both founders and their teams. Outside the agency, she’s a surfer, speaker, and advocate for building freedom through intentional business design. Connect with Melanie: Website: www.theemailmarketers.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/melaniebalke X: https://x.com/Melanie_Balke Check out Retention Lab, a community for DTC brands who want to build their retention team in-house: https://www.theemailmarketers.com/retention-lab _________ Did something in this episode resonate with you? Check out Unbreakable Wealth, a private community for conscious entrepreneurs, high performers, and athletes ready to build multidimensional wealth beyond just money. It is the space for the conversations you cannot have anywhere else. If you are ready to live, lead, and build from alignment, you are in the right place. Learn more and apply now: https://go.unbreakablewealth.com/vsl-long

Jack Swift followed the path to success with precision. He graduated from West Point, served as an Army Ranger, and grew to CEO of TIFIN, a category-defining AI fintech platform valued at $842M. Jack spent years building a successful life. He had the titles, the income, and the momentum. Over time, the long hours and constant pressure wore him down, until even the wins stopped feeling meaningful. He realized he was building from fear instead of alignment, and it was costing him his health, his clarity, and his sense of purpose. On this episode of Money Stories, Jack shares how his definition of success changed, what AI is revealing about human potential, and why presence has become his most valuable asset. We dive into: • How Jack rebuilt his life around clarity, not achievement • Why alignment is now his filter for every decision • The inner practices that shaped a billion-dollar company • What leaders need to understand about the role of AI • Why creativity, not control, is the new edge • How to build coherence, not just culture, and why that changes everything About Jack Swift Jack Swift is a leader who has spent his career operating at the edge of performance and transformation. A West Point graduate and former Airborne Ranger, his foundation in the military shaped a leadership style built on discipline, resilience, and purpose. After his service, Jack brought those same principles into the world of finance and entrepreneurship, guiding companies through growth and reinvention. He helped scale Janus Henderson’s institutional business, co-founded Pacific Current Group, and later led TIFIN, an AI-driven fintech platform that is redefining how wealth and asset managers use AI. Today, Jack advises AI companies, Brightwave and Grid.aero, is Co-Founder of Sangha and serves as a Board Director for Lockton Companies and Bow River Capital. Connect with Jack: Website: jackcswift.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-c-swift/ Check out his book coming out early next year titled Level 7 Leadership: Leading in the Age of AI _________ Did something in this episode resonate with you? Check out Unbreakable Wealth, a private community for conscious entrepreneurs, high performers, and athletes ready to build multidimensional wealth beyond just money. It is the space for the conversations you cannot have anywhere else. If you are ready to live, lead, and build from alignment, you are in the right place. Learn more and apply now: https://go.unbreakablewealth.com/vsl-long

Anthony Vicino once believed financial wins meant freedom. He went from living in a van and scaling cliffs to building million-dollar businesses - only to see it all collapse when betrayal and bankruptcy left him in serious debt. In this raw episode, Anthony shares how losing millions didn’t just reset his bank account - it reshaped his definition of wealth, purpose, and what a rich life truly looks like. We dive into: -How van life and rock climbing shaped Anthony’s earliest views on money and freedom. -The intoxicating highs of business success - and the devastating crash of losing it all. -How Anthony rebuilt a vision of success rooted in agency, community, and presence. -Why financial collapse can be the gateway to deeper self-discovery and resilience. -How he transformed his ADHD into his superpower. This isn’t a conversation about managing money - it's an honest reflection on failure, resilience, and rediscovering what truly makes life meaningful. About Anthony Vicino: Anthony Vicino is a best-selling author and serial entrepreneur who transformed his life from $80,000 in debt while living in a van to building successful businesses and a large real estate portfolio, at its peak worth over $85 million. He is known for turning his ADHD into a superpower and helping other entrepreneurs maximize their "Return on Life." Connect with Anthony: Website: https://anthonyvicino.com/ Youtube: YouTube.com/anthonyvicino Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theanthonyvicino/ _________ Did something in this episode resonate with you? Check out Unbreakable Wealth, a private community for conscious entrepreneurs, high performers, and athletes ready to build multidimensional wealth beyond just money. It is the space for the conversations you cannot have anywhere else. If you are ready to live, lead, and build from alignment, you are in the right place. Learn more and apply now: https://go.unbreakablewealth.com/vsl-long

What does it take to unlock your full potential, and why do so many high achievers sabotage themselves before they reach the top? In this conversation, I sit down with world-renowned hypnotherapist and mindset coach Elliot Roe, whose clients include world champion poker players, UFC fighters, Wall Street traders, and entrepreneurs. We dive into: How childhood experiences quietly program your “wealth thermostat” and self-worth. The hidden fears of rejection, isolation, and even success that keep talented people playing small. Why giving 90% effort feels safe but guarantees mediocrity - and what happens when you finally give 100%. The surprising truth about money: why even nine-figure exits and luxury purchases rarely deliver lasting happiness. How shifting from “dirty fuel” (proving yourself) to “clean fuel” (service and flow) creates both freedom and world-class performance. This episode reveals the mindset work behind real success and fulfillment. About Elliot Roe Elliot Roe is a leading expert in Mindset Optimization for High Performers and is the world’s #1 Mindset Coach for poker players. His poker clients have won over $250,000,000 and nearly every major tournament title, including the World Series of Poker Main Event. Elliot’s clientele also includes Olympic medalists, UFC Champions, Hollywood Actors, Business executives and wall street traders. His unique mindset coaching system leverages the power of hypnotherapy to eliminate fears and breakthrough mental roadblocks allowing you to operate in a state of peak performance every day. Connect with Elliot Website: www.elliotroe.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elliotroe/?hl=en X: https://x.com/elliotroe1?lang=en Download his app Primed Mind: https://primedmind.com/ Check out his book, A-Game Poker: https://a.co/d/c2q9VM4 _________ Did something in this episode resonate with you? Check out Unbreakable Wealth, a private community for conscious entrepreneurs, high performers, and athletes ready to build multidimensional wealth beyond just money. It is the space for the conversations you cannot have anywhere else. If you are ready to live, lead, and build from alignment, you are in the right place. Learn more and apply now: https://go.unbreakablewealth.com/vsl-long

What happens when you climb all the ladders you were told to, only to realize they may be leaning on the wrong wall? Shane Fuhrman has worn many hats: attorney, entrepreneur, public servant, and now founder of a hospitality brand redefining the art of atmosphere. His journey has spanned courtrooms, boutique hotels, and community leadership, but the deeper thread has been the same: how do you pursue ambition without losing presence? In this conversation, Shane shares what the mountains taught him about slowing down, why hospitality is more than service, and how creating spaces where people feel seen can be the deepest form of prosperity. We explore the lessons of leading a community through growth, the struggles of carrying big vision while avoiding burnout, and what it looks like to live in alignment with both place and purpose. About Shane Fuhrman Shane Fuhrman is the founder of VALEA, a hospitality brand rooted in the art of atmosphere and host culture. He previously practiced law, developed and operated a portfolio of boutique mountain properties including The Wyman Hotel and The Rochester Hotel, and served in public office in Silverton, Colorado, guiding the town through complex development initiatives while fostering community trust and sustainable growth. Connect with Shane Website: www.discovervalea.comInstagram: @shanefuhrmanLinkedIn: Shane Fuhrman Start the conversation: info@goldlakehospitality.com _________ Did something in this episode resonate with you? Check out Unbreakable Wealth, a private community for conscious entrepreneurs, high performers, and athletes ready to build multidimensional wealth beyond just money. It is the space for the conversations you cannot have anywhere else. If you are ready to live, lead, and build from alignment, you are in the right place. Learn more and apply now: https://go.unbreakablewealth.com/vsl-long