In this episode of the Phoenix Business Brief Podcast, David Wallace, president of Strive Point Advisors, discusses how today's housing market requires borrowers to focus less on headlines and more on individual goals and financial strategy.

Wallace explains why the mortgage broker model often provides greater pricing flexibility and lower risk than traditional mortgage banking, and why waiting for historically low interest rates to return may not be realistic. He also explores the long-term wealth-building value of homeownership, particularly for younger buyers navigating affordability concerns.

The conversation highlights Wallace's work helping small businesses access SBA financing, restructure high-interest debt, and secure capital to support sustainable growth.

Phoenix-based entrepreneur Robert Prochnow, founder of Zen Aegis, joins the Phoenix Business Brief Podcast to share how a four-year battle with cancer reshaped his approach to leadership, purpose, and business growth.

Prochnow explains why many small and mid-sized companies feel stuck despite working harder than ever, and how Zen Aegis partners directly with founders to own critical growth initiatives rather than simply offering advice.

The conversation explores practical uses of AI as a force multiplier, the value of fractional leadership for scaling without overhiring, and why true success is measured not only in revenue, but in restored clarity, confidence, and momentum for business owners and their teams.

In this episode of the Phoenix Business Brief Podcast, real estate professional Will Carter, owner of The Will Carter Team, discusses why personal circumstances and long-term goals matter more than headlines or short-term market conditions when deciding whether to buy a home.

Carter explains how homeownership remains a key driver of wealth creation and why younger generations should still view buying a home as a strategic goal, even amid concerns about affordability. The conversation also explores the potential unintended consequences of government efforts to restrict large institutional investors, such as BlackRock, from purchasing residential properties, including how such policies could reshape housing supply, pricing, and market dynamics.