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  • E32: Nick Malouin: From Chaos to Clarity: How Innovators Turn Uncertainty Into Action

    E32: Nick Malouin: From Chaos to Clarity: How Innovators Turn Uncertainty Into Action
    2025/12/08
    Mary Katherine Johnson welcomes Nick Malouin, Senior Strategy Director at Electric Innovation, to unpack how innovation strategy turns ambiguity into action. From Capgemini to Electric, Nick has spent a decade taking ideas from insight to in-market—bridging hard data with human truth so teams can build products people actually want. He breaks down why the best work starts with the consumer journey, not the org chart; how to separate signal from noise with out-of-category insights; and why "possible futures" beat single-line forecasts. If you care about product development, consumer insights, behavioral economics, category design, and getting prototypes into the wild, this one's for you. Nick explains Electric's niche between classic strategy firms (anchored in what's proven) and pure design shops (anchored in what's possible). Their mantra, de-risking bravery, means chasing bold ideas while pressure-testing feasibility, business model, and adoption risk early. We dig into methods that move the needle: defining a sharp tension/insight before jumping to features, using ethnography to observe real behavior (not just self-report), stress-testing concepts with fast "Instagram prop" ads to gauge click intent, and shaping education that inspires novices (think visual, not academic) so they stay engaged after the first setback. You'll hear a post-pandemic gardening case where growth stalled despite strong data trends; the fix came from understanding beginners' fragility and redesigning inspiration and reassurance, proof that buyer-focused journeys beat static funnels. Nick also shares a Vanguard example translating an intangible future into a tangible target number + savings rate, turning "I'll invest tomorrow" into action today. We close with the real talk: getting from Post-it to shelf is nonlinear; commit long-term, stay flexible, and solve one job at a time. Subscribe to Fortunes of the Brave for bold, credible, visionary conversations that help you take the next right step. Key Takeaways: • Start with tension → insight → solution; the best concepts "reveal themselves." • Blend data + human truth; watch behavior, don't just record opinions. • Prototype demand fast (e.g., ad tests) to validate value props before you build. • Design buyer journeys, not one-shot funnels; inspire novices with visuals. • Commit to the long game; be brave and adapt when the world changes. Chapters: • 00:00 – Welcome + "electric, strategy, innovation" • 00:43 – Nick's path: Capgemini → innovation consulting • 02:51 – Mindset shift: comfort with uncertainty • 05:10 – Why Electric: merging proven data with possibility (de-risking bravery) • 08:01 – Start with the consumer: research, ethnography, human truths • 10:03 – "Category" defined; core vs adjacencies • 11:37 – Long-term truths vs trend noise • 13:40 – Possible futures, not predictions; avoiding hype curves • 17:11 – Data ≠ answer; innovation is where lines deviate • 17:39 – Case study: gardening stall → inspire & reassure beginners • 20:38 – Make education visual, not academic; buyer-focused journeys • 25:57 – Insight first; Vanguard: make the future tangible • 31:26 – From Post-it to product: solve one job; get feedback early • 33:54 – "Instagram props" to test click interest in real time • 35:29 – Final advice: long-term commitment with flexibility Resources Mentioned: • Electric Innovation (strategy, innovation & design consultancy) • Capgemini; Fahrenheit 212 (innovation consultancy reference) • Vanguard (behavior-driven planning example) • "Instagram props" for rapid concept testing (ad-based pretotyping) Connect with Nick: • Company: Electric Innovation • Search: "Nick Malouin Electric Innovation" for talks & articles Follow Planet Wealth: Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube planetwealth.com
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    37 分
  • E31: Janice Shade: How Community Capital Moves Money from Wall Street to Main Street

    E31: Janice Shade: How Community Capital Moves Money from Wall Street to Main Street
    2025/12/01
    Community capital, crowdfunding, and local investing take center stage in this episode of Fortunes of the Brave. Systems entrepreneur and financial innovator Janice Shade, co-founder of Milk Money Vermont and founder of Capital Innovation Lab and Fundamenta, joins host Lance Woodson to unpack how everyday people can invest in the small businesses that define their hometowns. From her early days at Seventh Generation questioning the "green premium" to designing new models for Main Street investing, Janice shows why traditional capital markets leave most founders and communities behind. She shares the moment an attorney chuckled at her "million moms" funding idea and how that dismissal pushed her to pioneer legal, practical paths for citizen investors long before crowdfunding was a buzzword. You'll hear the inside story of Milk Money Vermont, including the maple syrup startup whose founder burst into tears when a complete stranger invested in her business online. Janice explains why most successful equity crowdfunding campaigns still rely heavily on founders' own networks, and why investor education is the missing link to scaling community capital. Janice and Lance dig into why small business funding is so hard, what keeps women and underrepresented founders from seeking capital, and how tools like her Money Map help entrepreneurs choose the right pathway instead of defaulting to banks or "finding a sugar daddy" investor. They wrestle with the tension between making money and making meaning, asking how much is enough and what true community wealth looks like when investors and founders sit on the same side of the table. If you care about impact investing, local economies, or finally moving your portfolio off Wall Street and into Main Street, this conversation is a masterclass in what's possible right now, and what still needs to change. Listen to this episode of Fortunes of the Brave to see how your money can start serving your community, not the other way around. Key Takeaways: Challenge the assumption that banks and venture capital are the only viable sources of small business funding. Discover how intrastate crowdfunding and state-level regulations opened the door for local investing. Learn why most crowdfunding campaigns still raise 90–95% of capital from the founder's own warm market. Understand how financial literacy and "Money Map" thinking can give entrepreneurs real power at the capital table. Reimagine wealth as a shared community outcome, not just an individual net-worth number. Chapters: 00:00 – Why this conversation on community capital matters now 01:38 – From Seventh Generation to questioning the "green premium" 03:57 – Getting laughed at and inventing new paths to capital 06:51 – Ben & Jerry's, intrastate crowdfunding, and Vermont's law change 09:43 – Milk Money Vermont and "neighbors investing in neighbors" 14:30 – Why crowdfunding is still harder than it should be 17:50 – Moving money off Wall Street and onto Main Street 23:09 – The Money Map: redesigning the entrepreneur's capital journey 25:55 – Women founders, fear of finance, and under-capitalized communities 28:30 – Nonprofit fundraising fatigue and the leap to Fundamenta 31:53 – Redefining wealth, enoughness, and community outcomes 36:21 – New tools for finance: beyond the master's house and tools 38:08 – CDFIs, local loan funds, and cities as funding engines 44:16 – Starting your first company at 42 with two kids 46:11 – Closing thoughts and Fortunes of the Brave CTA Resources Mentioned: Milk Money Vermont Capital Innovation Lab Fundamenta (community capital platform) Vermont Evaporator Company Vermont Community Loan Fund (CDFI) Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) Seventh Generation Ben & Jerry's early intrastate offering JOBS Act and early Regulation Crowdfunding "Moving Money" (book mentioned in the episode) Connect with Janice: Website: https://www.janiceshade.com LinkedIn Other: Capital Innovation Lab – https://innovatecapital.org Follow Planet Wealth: Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube Website: planetwealth.com
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    44 分
  • E30: Chad Hufford: Dare to Be Different: The Blueprint for Abundance

    E30: Chad Hufford: Dare to Be Different: The Blueprint for Abundance
    2025/11/24

    Mary Katherine Johnson welcomes Chad Hufford, Founder & Financial Planner at Veritas Wealth Management, for a refreshingly human conversation about building wealth you'll actually want to live with. Chad argues we're wired for scarcity and crowd-following—great for survival, terrible for long-term freedom—so real progress starts with mindset, meaning, and management of the investor (not just the investments).


    You'll hear how to define date-specific, dollar-specific goals (e.g., "₍future date₎ + net monthly income after tax"), then reverse-engineer the needed assets and monthly contributions. Chad shares a powerful "deck of cards" story to illustrate finding a cause big enough to fuel discipline, plus a practical way to turn foggy dreams into a living blueprint you can adapt with technology as life changes. We cover staying focused on controllables, designing a job-optional lifestyle, and why courage matters: you can't be brave without fear. Subscribe to Fortunes of the Brave for bold, credible, visionary conversations that help you take the next right step.

    Key Takeaways:
    • Abundance is designed, not stumbled into. Start with meaning, not someone else's values.
    • Coach the investor, not (only) the portfolio. Behavior beats products over decades.
    • Write date-specific, dollar-specific income goals and reverse-engineer assets & monthly saving.
    • Break the big goal into monthly and daily inputs; celebrate consistency.
    • Build a living plan; technology helps scenario-plan and cool emotional reactions.
    • Focus on what you can control (saving rate, costs, behavior) vs. headlines you can't.
    • Dare to be different. The crowd's average outcomes aren't your target.
    • Courage ≠ no fear. It's moving forward with fear toward the best version of your life.

    Chapters:
    • 00:01 – Welcome + why abundance beats scarcity
    • 00:55 – We're wired to survive, not thrive (and what to do about it)
    • 02:56 – Managing investors > managing investments (coaching vs. products)
    • 06:19 – Mindset first: you bring "you" into the future
    • 08:53 – Clarity: date-specific, dollar-specific income goals
    • 10:53 – The "deck of cards" story: finding a why big enough to endure
    • 12:10 – Job-optional lifestyle: purpose after paychecks
    • 14:13 – Reverse-engineering: assets, contributions, inflation adjustments
    • 16:00 – Daily inputs, monthly wins: making progress visible
    • 18:54 – Diagnose before you prescribe (relational planning)
    • 22:21 – The blueprint metaphor (plans evolve; guardrails remain)
    • 24:50 – Tech + planning: modeling, quick pivots, cooler heads
    • 30:17 – Staying calm in storms by returning to the blueprint
    • 32:03 – People over products; relationship > charts
    • 34:12 – Dare to be different: why "normal" isn't safe
    • 36:03 – Final word: courage means acting despite fear

    Resources Mentioned:
    • Veritas Wealth Management (Chad's firm)
    • "Date-specific, dollar-specific" goal setting (income-first planning)
    • "Job-optional lifestyle" concept
    • "No plan survives first contact with reality" (planning as a living document)

    Connect with Chad:
    • Company: Veritas Wealth Management
    • Role: Founder & Financial Planner
    • Search: "Chad Hufford Veritas Wealth" for site & resources

    Follow Planet Wealth:
    Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube
    Website: planetwealth.com
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    38 分
  • E29: Rebecca McLean: Bridge the Gap: The Reg CF Revolution for Everyday Investors

    E29: Rebecca McLean: Bridge the Gap: The Reg CF Revolution for Everyday Investors
    2025/11/17
    Mary sits down with Rebecca McLean to unpack how the JOBS Act and Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF) opened a new lane for everyday investors and community focused entrepreneurs to fund real estate; legally, transparently, and at scale. Rebecca traces National REIA's 40-year mission to promote, protect, and educate the industry, including advocacy that helped unlock today's crowdfunding rules. They dig into attainable housing, revitalizing blocks "one address at a time," and why local collaboration + policy + partnerships matter just as much as capital. From accredited vs. non-accredited realities to Reg D vs. Reg CF, from rehabs and rentals to syndications and the role of REIA groups in education and support, this episode is a practical roadmap for raising community-first capital and doing deals that actually move neighborhoods forward. Key Takeaways: • Why Reg CF matters: It took the JOBS Act (2012) and SEC rulemaking (2016) to enable compliant crowdfunding, discoverability, and open solicitation,finally making smaller, local deals visible. • Community is the edge: Local knowledge + national networks = smarter underwriting, better comps, and safer deals especially in neighborhoods banks won't touch. • Attainable > "affordable": Small investors can deliver workforce/attainable housing via rehab and value-add where large builders can't pencil starter homes. • Education & protection: National REIA's 120+ local groups provide training, legislative updates, due-diligence checklists, cost-saving benefits, and partnerships with community entities. • Build wealth on purpose: Flips create income; holds and syndications build durable wealth. "Do a couple rehabs, hold one" beats buying yourself another job. • Cycles are coming: Many new investors have only seen "up." Community experience and disciplined capital stacks help you survive the next blip. • Action > anxiety: "Just do it but not blindly." Use community, education, and compliant platforms to navigate the regulated process. Chapters: • 00:00 – Intro: Meet Rebecca McLean & National REIA at 40 • 01:32 – The JOBS Act, Reg CF & opening the door for small investors • 02:41 – Advocacy journey: from Reg D limitations to true democratization • 08:21 – Why community-first crowdfunding works in real estate • 09:14 – "Building Better Communities": block-by-block revitalization • 12:27 – Purpose-driven deals: teachers, veterans, sober living & stability • 15:38 – Education that sticks: local REIAs, data, and due diligence • 18:13 – Attainable housing vs. new-build economics; cost controls & benefits • 22:34 – From first flip to syndications: real success paths • 26:10 – Closing the wealth gap: why Planet Wealth leans into real estate • 27:35 – Policy + partnerships + local wisdom: the other half of capital • 29:49 – The power of diverse roles on a deal team (and on-the-ground intel) • 30:46 – Market cycles: why community experience keeps you steady • 33:19 – Final advice: "Just do it, get educated and plug into community" Resources Mentioned: • National REIA: 120+ local investor associations; training, benefits, legislative updates, market data, and best practices • Topics: JOBS Act (2012), SEC rulemaking (2016), Reg CF vs. Reg D, accredited vs. non-accredited investors, community revitalization, attainable housing, syndications, due diligence, cost-saving vendor programs Connect with Rebecca / National REIA: • Search "National REIA Rebecca McLean" to find the national site and your nearest local group. Explore Planet Wealth: Learn how compliant Reg CF raises help community-first real estate projects get funded: planetwealth.com Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube
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    35 分
  • E28: Matt Slepin: From Cowboys to Platforms: What's Next in Real Estate

    E28: Matt Slepin: From Cowboys to Platforms: What's Next in Real Estate
    2025/11/10
    Lance sits down with Matt Slepin, one of real estate's best-known executive recruiters and storytellers, to trace the industry's arc from the RTC era to today's institutional, tech-enabled platforms—and what comes next. Matt explains how CMBS and REITs catalyzed a shift from "piles of assets" to true operating companies, why technology and capital markets now define competitive advantage, and how leaders must evolve from property whisperers to business builders with resilient balance sheets, systems, and succession. They get real about purpose and profit—from serving renters and strengthening cities to tackling climate's 40% built-environment footprint—arguing that durable impact often follows enlightened self-interest over 20-year horizons (and keeps regulation at bay). Matt shares hiring and leadership patterns he sees across top performers: discipline + flexibility, altitude control (don't live at 500 feet), and the courage to grow beyond the founder's shadow. Stories span nonprofit scale, workforce housing entrepreneurship, and what it takes to create the best place to work—because culture shows up in NOI. Key Takeaways: • Institutionalization 2.0: Post-RTC, CMBS and REITs professionalized the game; now platform excellence (people, systems, capital structure, tech) is the edge. • Tech + Capital = Gravity: From investor reporting to property ops, tech rewires every function; capital market savvy (leverage, maturities, stack) keeps you alive in downturns. • Purpose via Self-Interest: Serving renters, cities, and climate aligns with long-term reputation and regulation risk—mission and margins reinforce each other. • Hire for tomorrow: Deep discipline expertise and resilience/flexibility beat static resumes; many next-gen CFOs must run a company, not 30 LLCs. • Lead at altitude: Great CEOs live high enough to steer the platform, but can drop to 5,000 feet to mentor—not to micromanage. • Focus wins: Pick a thesis you can execute, stay relentless, let it evolve—but stick with the lane long enough to compound. Chapters: • 00:00 – Warm-up: who's Matt and why this matters • 05:03 – RTC, CMBS, REITs: how the "cowboys" met the balance sheet • 06:31 – What changes next: platforms, tech, AI, sophistication • 08:08 – Apartments, cities, climate: purpose through enlightened self-interest • 11:07 – Reputation & regulation: why long-term thinking pays • 13:31 – People vs vision? Align both; culture as enterprise value • 16:25 – Operating as a company: capital stacks, leverage, hold-period survival • 18:44 – Two drivers of change: capital markets + technology everywhere • 21:46 – Hiring now: discipline depth + flexibility/resilience • 25:59 – Bridging the gap: from asset gurus to platform leaders • 27:45 – Growing with the company: altitude control beats the weeds • 30:57 – Builders bigger than themselves: nonprofit scale, workforce housing plays • 35:33 – Staying on mission: focus, relentlessness, best-place-to-work ethos • 37:29 – Leadership that lasts: be good people, create value • 39:07 – Career map: find your lane, then dig deep • 41:18 – Personal: partnership, music, and a bagel-shop jam called "Stoosday" Resources Mentioned: • ZRG — Global talent advisory (Real Estate Practice) • Terra Search Partners — Executive search in real estate • Leading Voices in Real Estate — Matt's podcast (1M+ downloads) • Themes: RTC/CMBS/REITs, apartment industry, workforce/affordable housing, secondary/tertiary market theses, culture & "best place to work," climate impact of the built environment Connect with Matt: • Podcast: Leading Voices in Real Estate • Firm: ZRG – Global Real Estate Practice • Search: "Matt Slepin ZRG Leading Voices" for episodes & articles Follow Planet Wealth: Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube Website: planetwealth.com
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    38 分
  • E27: Kathy Fettke: Real Wealth, Real Returns: The Cash-Flow Playbook

    E27: Kathy Fettke: Real Wealth, Real Returns: The Cash-Flow Playbook
    2025/11/03
    Mary Katherine Johnson sits down with Kathy Fettke, Co-Founder of Real Wealth, to unpack a practical roadmap to real estate investing that ordinary professionals can use to build durable wealth. After a family health scare wiped out her savings, Kathy discovered the power of rental income and house hacking, then turned a weekend radio show into a learning engine interviewing experts (including Robert Kiyosaki) and stress-testing everything with commonsense cash flow. In this episode, she explains how to leave bubble markets for fundamentals, why average-priced homes near jobs and infrastructure win, and how disciplined vetting of property managers protects returns. Kathy traces the origins of Real Wealth, now an 88,000-member community helping busy professionals buy sensible rentals and participate in passive syndications. You'll hear how she helped clients exit overheated markets, redeploy into metros like Dallas at the start of massive growth cycles, and avoid the 2009 wipeout—while emphasizing education over hype. We cover criteria for market selection (jobs, population, schools, infrastructure), avoiding analysis paralysis, and building a retirement portfolio of cash-flowing assets you'd be proud to offer tenants. She also shares the mindset reset that unlocked her progress—challenging limiting beliefs about money, trusting data plus intuition, and taking action after a focused year of study. Whether you're early in your journey or ready to scale, you'll walk away with a playbook for resilient passive income that aligns purpose, planet, and profit. Subscribe to Fortunes of the Brave for bold, credible, visionary conversations that help you take the next right step. Key Takeaways: • Define buy-box fundamentals and stick to cash flow over speculation. • Follow jobs, population growth, schools, and new infrastructure when choosing markets. • Vet property managers rigorously; your team is the moat around your returns. • Start where the numbers work (average-priced homes); avoid negative cash flow "status" assets. • Educate deeply, then act—progress beats perfection and paralysis. Chapters:• 00:00 – Welcome + who is Kathy Fettke • 01:04 – Real Wealth's mission: build long-term rental portfolios • 02:10 – Health scare, house hacking, and discovering rental income • 05:13 – Pivot to broadcasting about wealth and learning from experts • 07:07 – Mortgage clients' strategies and the power of leverage (then) • 09:50 – First high-net-worth client: seeing the planning gap • 11:44 – Bubble markets vs. fundamentals; enter Dallas playbook • 12:50 – Buying five Texas rentals that actually pencil • 16:30 – How to vet property managers and read local demand • 19:52 – Tenant-first mindset and providing a needed service • 28:46 – Real Wealth today: 88K members, free education, vetted teams • 31:07 – Early syndications and the path to passive investing • 33:37 – Client outcomes and why common sense wins • 35:11 – Debating "it's dangerous to buy" and winning on cash flow • 37:29 – Close + how to connect with Kathy Resources Mentioned: • Real Wealth — free education, vetted teams • Rich Dad Poor Dad — Robert Kiyosaki • Extreme Success — Rich Fettke • Case-Shiller Index (context from Kathy's media appearances) • Rockwall, TX example (schools, commute, infrastructure) • JOBS Act and passive real estate syndications (context) Connect with Kathy: • Website: realwealth.com • LinkedIn • Other: Free weekly investor webinars at Real Wealth Follow Planet Wealth: Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube Website: planetwealth.com
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    38 分
  • E26: Eric Miller: Treat Your Business Like an Investment: Readiness, Returns, and Purpose

    E26: Eric Miller: Treat Your Business Like an Investment: Readiness, Returns, and Purpose
    2025/10/27

    Mary Kathryn Johnson interviews Eric Miller, Co-Owner and Chief Financial Advisor at Econologics Financial Advisors, on how practice owners and entrepreneurs can engineer financial freedom with a disciplined approach to exit planning, owner compensation, and post-sale purpose. Drawing on two decades of experience with private practice owners in healthcare and other fields, Eric explains why every founder should plan an exit early, how to gauge emotional and financial readiness, and why a business must be treated like an investment rather than a job. He introduces the Financial Beast framework: multiple income sources, protection against taxes, inflation, and lawsuits, profitable and transferable operations, no bad debt, and time freedom.

    Eric outlines the CEO's true role—set policy, install guardrails, and manage by a handful of key statistics—then shows how a written Investment Policy Statement (IPS) anchors investment choices when markets and opinions are noisy. He breaks down a simple owner-pay system that treats the household like a parent company receiving a consistent "management fee," translating business success into durable personal wealth.

    For owners eyeing a transition, Eric warns against selling in burnout, parking proceeds in cash out of fear, or chasing unvetted "friend deals." Instead, align allocations to the IPS, perform real diligence, and design a meaningful next game to replace the intensity of operating a business. His core premise is direct: financial success is an inside job—built by habits, clarity, and discipline, not headlines or hype. Fortunes of the Brave shares stories of founders and investors rewriting the rules of wealth, access, and ownership. Subscribe for more conversations that prove fortune favors the brave.

    Key Takeaways:
    • Plan the exit early and assess emotional plus financial readiness before burnout.
    • Treat the business like an investment to make it profitable, transferable, and
    desirable.
    • Lead like a CEO with policies, guardrails, and a few key stats.
    • Create and follow an Investment Policy Statement to guide allocation and risk.
    • Pay the owner on purpose by routing a consistent management fee to the
    household.

    Chapters:
    • 00:00 – Eric's path to advising practice owners
    • 03:00 – Why every founder needs an exit strategy
    • 06:12 – Emotional vs. financial readiness to sell
    • 08:58 – What "Financial Beast" really means
    • 11:56 – Make your business desirable to a buyer
    • 14:34 – CEO guardrails: policy and key stats
    • 17:29 – Post-exit purpose and avoiding bad pitches
    • 21:21 – The IPS: rules for every investment decision
    • 25:17 – Owner pay: household as the parent company
    • 30:03 – Financial freedom is an inside job


    Resources Mentioned:
    • Econologics Financial Advisors
    • How to Become a Financial Beast (book by Eric Miller)
    • Financial Beast Podcast (hosted by Eric Miller)
    • Benjamin Graham's investing principles (e.g., The Intelligent Investor)

    Connect with Eric:
    • Website: Econologics Financial Advisors
    • LinkedIn: Eric Miller
    • Other: Financial Beast Podcast

    Follow Planet Wealth:
    • Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | LinkedIn: @PlanetWealthOfficial
    • YouTube: Planet Wealth Official
    • Website: planetwealth.com
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    36 分
  • Fortunes of the Brave: Don't Miss What's Coming

    Fortunes of the Brave: Don't Miss What's Coming
    2025/09/22

    Get ready for the next evolution of Planet Wealth: Fortunes of the Brave!

    We're taking a short break to prepare a fresh intro and deep-dive new episodes!

    Subscribe for relaunch updates, hit the bell for notifications, and check out our website to learn more.

    On Planet Wealth, fortune favors the brave and we're making moves together!

    Visit us at: https://planetwealth.com/
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    2 分