Smart Money Circle

Mission Driven - How To Make Better Decisions - From Former Commanding Officer US Navy SEAL Team TwoGuest:Mike Hayes A Managing Director at Insight Partners * Former Commanding Officer of US Navy SEAL Team TWO* Managing Director, Insight Partners* Author of National Bestseller Mission Driven (distilled nicely in this article)All of Mike’s profits from his book sales go to a 501(c)(3) he founded, The 1162 Foundation, which pays off mortgages for Gold Star families – he’s paid off 12 widows’ mortgages to date.AUMRegulatory assets under management $90B and 600 portfolio managers. Timeless LessonsLeaders Don’t need to make the best decision.They need to make sure the best decision gets made. Team, Teammate, SelfAlgin these 3 things – for purpose and elite performance:What gives someone energy?What are they good at?What’s good for the business?Best adviceWhenever you are having a hard day, find someone else who’s having a harder day and help them. Social Profiles* Instagram @thisis.mikehayes* X @thisismikehayes* LinkedInBioMike Hayes is Managing Director at Insight Partners, a global software investment firm with $90B+ in regulatory assets under management and 800+ portfolio companies across every stage of growth.Prior to Insight, Mike was Chief Operating Officer at VMware, where he led the company’s worldwide business operations, their SaaS transition, and the successful acquisition into Broadcom for $94B. Before that, Mike served as Senior Vice President and Head of Strategic Operations for Cognizant Technologies, where he ran a $2B P&L for Cognizant’s global financial services clients.Mike previously spent four years at Bridgewater Associates, an investment management firm, where he served in Chief of Staff to CEO and COO roles. Prior to Bridgewater, he spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy SEALs where his career began as one of 19 graduates from a class of 120. Mike served throughout South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia, including the conflicts in Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan.His last job in the Navy was the Commanding Officer of SEAL Team TWO, which included ten months as the Commander of a 2,000-person Special Operations Task Force in southeastern Afghanistan. Before that, Mike was selected as a White House Fellow ('08/'09) and served two years as Director of Defense Policy and Strategy at the National Security Council.In the Bush Administration, Mike was responsible for the START Treaty, where he produced a new proposed START Treaty and flew to Russia for negotiations. In the Obama administration, he led the White House response to President Obama’s first major foreign policy showdown — the hijacking of the Maersk Alabama off the coast of Somalia. Prior to the White House Fellowship, Mike served as the Deputy Commander for all Special Operations in Anbar Province, Iraq.Mike holds an M.A. in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School and received his B.A. from Holy Cross College, where he was an active Big Brother. His military decorations include the Bronze Star for valor in combat in Iraq, a Bronze Star for Afghanistan, and the Defense Superior Service Medal from the White House.Mike is the author of the best-seller Never Enough: A Navy SEAL Commander on Living a Life of Excellence, Agility, and Meaning, and donates all profits to a 501(c)(3) he started that pays off mortgages for Gold Star widows and children.He serves on the board of Immuta, a data governance company, and is the founding board member of the National Medal of Honor Museum. Mike is a lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations, is fluent in German and Spanish, frequently speaks about leadership and elite organizations, and enjoys mentoring others to success.He is a life-long Sox/Pats fan, but most enjoys laughing with his wife, Anita, and their 24-year-old daughter, Maeson.

Brian A. LeeVice President of SalesBL Wealth Management Firm AUM $600M Website https://blwealthmanagement.com/About Brian LeeBrian possesses a unique combination of experience in the public and private sectors. Recognized for integrity, ability to work cross functionally, and being passionate about innovative results and achieving goals. Brian started his career in the Insurance/Financial Services space after a two years graduating from Northern Illinois University. He began his journey at Country Financial in Sales helping middle market clients with insurance and financial planning.Brian possesses a unique combination of experience in the public and private sectors. Recognized for integrity, ability to work cross functionally, and being passionate about innovative results and achieving goals. Brian started his career in the Insurance/Financial Services space after a two years graduating from Northern Illinois University. He began his journey at Country Financial in Sales helping middle market clients with insurance and financial planning.My focus now is helping younger generation with financial planning, understand compounding of investments, saving for the future and providing protection for the unexpected. My work also helps individuals, small business owners plan, save and plan for long-term. Brian is supported with a team of insurance and financial professionals with over 70 years of combine experience to forge strong customer relationships and provide competence and integrity. Brian is a financial advisor representative who is the investment advisor representative at First Advisors National. In a fiduciary capacity, he develops and reviews financial plans for individuals and families. He has a Series 65 and Life and Health license. Brian resides in the Western suburbs of Chicago with his wife, daughter. Brian enjoys outside activities like golfing, boating, snowmobling, socializing with family and friends!

Use Your Investor Voice To Make A Big Impact – Meet Kristin Hull Founder NIA Impact Capital Name: Kristin HullTitle: Founder, CIO AUM: $530MWebsite: www.niaimpactcapital.com Bio:Kristin is the Founder, Chief Investment Officer, and Portfolio Manager of Nia Impact Capital. Kristin oversees research and decision-making for Nia’s Flagship Global Solutions portfolio, Nia Growth and Dividend SMA, and Nia’s Equity Forward Portfolio, leading company analysis, portfolio design, and criteria setting.Kristin started her investment career at Hull Trading and later Hull Investments, LLC, then combined her worlds of financial markets and systems change in 2007, becoming an early pioneer in the impact investing space after Hull Trading sold to Goldman Sachs.As President and Chair of the Board, Kristin supervised the creation of the first 100% mission-aligned foundation endowment in 2007. She went on to found Nia Community Investments and Nia Community Foundation, the second 100% impact-invested foundation portfolio in 2010.Nia Community is a 100% impact-invested portfolio of companies crossing the entire spectrum of impact investing opportunities from early-stage angel investments to public equities, funds, and loan guarantees. After extensive due diligence on public equity options, Kristin was called to create Nia Global Solutions to offer investors high-quality impact alongside daily liquidity.She spent two years at Domini Social Investments, working on fossil fuel–free portfolio options and building out Nia Global’s six solution themes.Kristin is co-founder of Impact Hub Oakland and North Oakland Community Charter School, and she served on the founding board of George Mark Children’s House. She currently serves on the advisory board of Limitless Bridge Venture Capital Fund, Emerging Women, How Women Invest, and several non-profit boards.Kristin is a Registered Investment Advisor. She earned her B.A. and teaching credentials from Tufts University in 1990, her M.A. in Research in Bilingual Education from Stanford University in 1995, and her Ph.D. in Urban Education from the University of California at Berkeley in 2006.

Full name: Thierry L. BernardTitle: Chief Executive OfficerWebsite: https://www.qiagen.com/usTicker: $QGENBiography: Thierry Bernard joined QIAGEN in February 2015 to lead the company’s growing presence in molecular diagnostics, the application of Sample to Insight solutions for molecular testing in human healthcare.He was named Chief Executive Officer in March 2020 after serving in this role on an interim basis and became a member of the Managing Board in 2021.Previously, Mr. Bernard held roles of increasing responsibility during 15 years with bioMérieux SA, most recently as Corporate Vice President, Global Commercial Operations, Investor Relations and the Greater China Region, and held senior management roles in several other leading international companies.He was named Chair of the AdvaMedDx Board of Directors in March 2023, a U.S. industry trade association, and joined the Board of Directors of Neogen Corporation (NASDAQ: NEOG) in 2024.Mr. Bernard has earned degrees and certifications from Sciences Po, the London School of Economics, the College of Europe, Harvard Business School, Centro de Comercio Exterior de Barcelona. He has been appointed Conseiller du Commerce Extérieur by the French government.

Guest:Edward (a.k.a. Scooter) F. Thomas IIITitle: Financial AdvisorAUM: ~$250MWebsite: https://savantwealth.com/employee/scooter-thomas/Bio:As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional, Chartered Special Needs Consultant® (ChSNC®), and Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®), Scooter is knowledgeable in all areas of financial planning, including wealth transfer and philanthropy, proactive income and estate tax planning, retirement cash flow projections, retirement income optimization, insurance needs analyses, debt management, and education funding.Scooter has been involved in the financial services industry since 2017. He was an associate advisor with Bridgeworth until it joined with Savant in 2023. Prior to joining Bridgeworth, Scooter served as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps and then transitioned to the reserve forces.While serving our country, Scooter was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. In 2021, he was recognized by the Birmingham Business Journal as a Veteran of Influence.Scooter maintains his affiliation with the Marine Corps Reserve and serves as a Regional Air Defense Policy Planner on the Aviation Expeditionary Enabling team at the Pentagon. He is a member of the Monday Morning Quarterback Club and the Alabama Veterans Memorial Park Board, serves as president of the Birmingham chapter of the Hampden-Sydney Alumni Club, and is the board finance chair for the Birmingham Committee on Foreign Relations..Scooter earned a bachelor of arts degree in religious studies (Islam) from Hampden-Sydney (VA) College.Scooter and his wife Megan happily reside in Mountain Brook with their daughter Evie, son Franklin, and two dogs, Lettie and Macy.DisclaimerThis discussion is intended to provide general information. Please consult your financial professional for guidance on your unique situation before implementing any of the ideas presented. Savant Wealth is a registered investment advisor with the SEC. Visit www.savantwealth.com for more information about our firm.

Guest:Neil Blumenthal Co-founder and Co-CEO of Warby ParkerWebsite:https://www.warbyparker.com/Ticker: $WRBYBio:Neil Blumenthal is a co-founder and co-CEO of Warby Parker, a direct-to-consumer lifestyle brand focused on vision for all. Since day one, over twenty million pairs of glasses have been distributed through the company’s Buy a Pair, Give a Pair program. Neil has been named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young, and one of the 100 Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company. He serves on the board of directors of Sweetgreen (NYSE: SG), as well as the nonprofit organizations Robin Hood, Tech: NYC, the Partnership Fund for New York City, and the Warby Parker Impact Foundation. Neil also sits on the leadership council of Responsible Innovation Labs, and he serves as a General Partner of Good Friends LLC, an early stage venture capital firm. A native of New York City, Neil received his BA from Tufts University and his MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

GuestTed Halpern, Regional President, Managing Director | MAI Capital MAI Capital’s AUM =$35BWebsitehttps://mai.capital/BioTed Halpern brings over 30 years of experience in financial services, having launched Halpern Financial, Inc. in 1998. He joined MAI in 2024, where he continues to provide comprehensive financial, investment, and wealth management planning to affluent families, professionals, and their businesses. Ted serves on the Board for Institutional Investor and is involved in several charities. He holds a B.S. in Finance from the University of Maryland. He and his wife, Bethe, live in both Naples, FL and Ashburn, VA, and are proud parents of twins.

Guest:Mark DiGiovanni is founder and president of Marathon Financial Strategies Inc.Website:https://www.marathon-forthelongrun.com/Bio:-Runner since 1969-BS in 1975-Middle school teacher 1976-1980-Married since 1983-MBA in 1987-Passed CPA exam in 1988-Episcopalian since 1989-Father since 1989-Founded Marathon in 1995-Certified Financial Planner (CFP) since 1997-Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) since 1997-CFP Ambassador since 2010-Named a Five-Star Wealth Manager by Atlanta magazine last thirteen years (click here for details)-Board member of Episcopal Community Foundation since 2017-Member of AARP's Executive Council since 2018-Wrote seven books in ten years. (See Mark's Books-Free to You page.)

Name: Will Rhind Granite Shares ETFs – Over $10B AUM Title: Founder and CEOAUM: GraniteShares AUM ~ $10 Billion AUMCompany name:GraniteSharesWebsite: https://graniteshares.comBio: Will Rhind is the Founder & CEO of GraniteShares, an award-winning ETF company managing over $10 billion in assets. A recognized leader in commodities and alternative investing, Will helps investors protect and grow capital in inflationary and volatile markets — exactly where smart money wants an edge.Before GraniteShares, Will held senior roles at iShares, ETF Securities, and The World Gold Council, building innovative products that make real assets accessible to everyday investors. He’s a trusted voice on CNBC, Bloomberg, and Fox Business, known for breaking down complex macro trends into clear, actionable strategies. Originally from the UK and now based in New York.

Guest Axel Merk President and Chief Investment Officer of Merk Investments With Over $2.5B AUMAUM: $2.5BCompany: Merk InvestmentsWebsite: https://www.merkinvestments.com/Tickers: OUNZ / ASABio:Axel Merk is the Founder, President, and Chief Investment Officer of Merk Investments, a leading investment advisory firm managing over $2 billion, with a focus on gold and precious metals. With a B.A. and M.Sc. from Brown University, Axel brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the financial industry.Known for his proactive approach, Axel believes in taking action, whether in markets or life. His leadership extends beyond finance, as he actively participates in community service, including serving on the Board Committee for the Dancers Repertory Theatre.Axel's commitment to using his skills and resources for the greater good makes him a dynamic and inspiring figure in both investment and community circles.

Guest: Oktay Kavrak, Director of Comms and Strategy at Leverage Shares & IncomeSharesCompany: Leverage Shares ETPsWebsite: www.leverageshares.com / www.incomeshares.com AUM: ~$2 Billion Bio:Oktay Kavrak is the Director of Communications & Strategy at Leverage Shares, the pioneer in single-stock ETPs, and IncomeShares, Europe’s first options-based income ETPs on single stocks, indices, and commodities. He has been instrumental in bringing some of the most popular products to the London Stock Exchange, including the most traded ETP for three consecutive years.A CFA Charterholder, Oktay has built his career across banking, fund administration, and product strategy before taking on his current leadership role in the ETF industry. He has been quoted in Bloomberg, the Financial Times, CNN, and ETF Stream, and has appeared on CNBC, Benzinga, and others.Known for making complex financial products easy to understand, Oktay has built a following of more than 30,000 investors and professionals by sharing digestible, data-driven content across social media. When he’s not deep in markets, he reminds himself - and his audience - that life is too short to overthink the petty things.Disclaimer:The views expressed in this interview are Oktay’s own and not necessarily those of Leverage Shares. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. Always do your own research.

Alan StraussSenior Partner, Director of Investor Relations at Crystal Capital Partners with $1B in assetsWebsitehttps://www.crystalfunds.com/BioAlan has been with the firm since 2009. During that time, he has helped lead the firm’s investor relations department and continues to focus on client relations, sales, and marketing initiatives. He earned both his M.S.Ed. in Sport Administration and his B.S. in Broadcast Journalism and Spanish from the University of Miami.Crystal has over $1bn of AUM on its platform

This $3B Money Management Firm Shares Timeless Lessons & Takes A Holistic Approach To Investing GuestDaria Victorov – Financial Advisor and Partner atAbacus Wealth Partners with approximately $3B in AUMWebsite: https://abacuswealth.com/ BioDaria graduated from Virginia Tech's CFP undergraduate education program. Shortly after graduating she relocated to the Bay Area and worked for a small RIA in Silicon Valley. There she kick started her career working primarily with young professionals in tech. After a year the company merged with another RIA where she gained experience working with a transcontinental team and focusing on transitioning clients to the new firm.In 2016 she moved to Abacus Wealth Partners where she is now a relationship manager and partner. Abacus is a national RIA that serves ~1,600 households. She has been on FPA Silicon Valley's board of directors and the NorCal committee. Currently she is involved with NAPFA's DEI committee. In 2018 she was named one of Financial Advisor's 10 Young Advisors to Watch. Lastly, in 2024 she was named one of InvestmentNews' Rising Star recipients.Disclaimer:Abacus Wealth Partners, LLC (‘Abacus’) is an SEC registered investment adviser. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC nor does it indicate that Abacus has attained a particular level of skill or ability. This material prepared by Abacus is for informational purposes only and is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. Abacus’ website and its associated links offer news, commentary, and generalized research. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information and should not be considered as a recommendation or solicitation of any particular security, strategy or investment product. It is not intended to serve as personalized tax, legal, and/or investment advice since the availability and effectiveness of any strategy is dependent upon your individual facts and circumstances. Abacus is not a legal or accounting firm. Please consult with your tax and/or legal professional regarding your specific tax or legal situation when determining if any of the mentioned strategies are right for you. Nothing on this website should be interpreted to state or imply that past performance is an indication of future performance. All investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed.

Name: Tom HulickTitle: CEO – Strategy Asset ManagersAUM: $850MWebsite: https://strategyassetmanagers.com/Bio: Tom Hulick is CEO, CCO and Managing Partner of Strategy Asset Managers. He is the founding partner of Hulick Capital Management, LLC ─ the parent company of both Strategy Asset Managers and Holly Street Wealth Advisors. Mr. Hulick has worked for 25 years as a senior wealth advisor and investment manager for some of the largest financial and investment firms in the world.He is an active member of the Tulane University Fund Advisory Board and serves on the board of the WildlifeNOW ─ Tony Fitzjohn / George Adamson African Wildlife Preservation Trust. Mr. Hulick previously served on the advisory board of the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center in Pasadena, California and the Neighborhood Youth Association, serving underprivileged youth in Los Angeles, CA. He has been a member of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses volunteers since 2007.Mr. Hulick received a B.A. in political science from Tulane University and his MBA from the University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business. He is also a graduate of The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and Aresty Institute of Executive Education, Senior Consultant’s Program, through which he received the designation of Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA).

GuestGleb Budman, Cofounder, CEO, Chairman of Backblaze [NASDAQ: BLZE]Websitehttps://www.backblaze.com/About Gleb BudmanGleb Budman is the co-founder and CEO of Backblaze (NASDAQ: BLZE), the cloud storage company trusted by over 500,000 customers in 175+ countries. From home-built servers to taking the company public, Gleb has led Backblaze with a rare mix of long-term vision, transparency, and scrappiness. Turning a bootstrapped startup into a global cloud platform. Before Backblaze, Gleb led product at two technology startups from beginning through successful acquisitions.

Name: Chris LoTitle: Founder & CEOWebsite: https://ir.jiguang.cnCompany Name: Aurora MobileTicker: JGBio: A serial entrepreneur, founded Aurora Mobile in 2011. Secured multiple rounds of investments from Mandra, IDG, FOSUN, Fidelity, Goldman Sachs, and led Aurora to a successful IPO on NASDAQ in 2018.

Guest:Scott A. Goginsky, CFA ®Partner & Portfolio ManagerBiondo Investment Advisors, LLCAUM: $1.1BWebsite:www.TheBiondoGroup.comDisclosure:Neither the information nor opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation by us of the purchase or sale of any securities. Past performance does not guarantee future results.Bio:Scott was drawn to the value of a small firm culture and local emphasis when he joined Biondo Investment Advisors in 2010 as a Research Analyst & Portfolio Manager. He finds managing the money of individuals rewarding, as he can help make a significant impact to them and their families. He became a Partner in 2020 and is responsible for equity research and portfolio management.Scott has provided expert commentary on financial markets and investment strategies, appearing on platforms such as NASDAQ TradeTalks, TD Ameritrade, and Business Insider to share insights with investors.He began his career at Metropolitan Life in 1996, and later became a securities analyst at ING Investment Management. He then joined Wachovia Securities as a sell-side research analyst, covering the consumer sector, before moving to Schwartz Investment Counsel as an analystand portfolio manager.Scott graduated from University of Kansas with Bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Business Administration. He has an MBA from Oakland University and is a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®). He is also a member of the CFA Institute.Married with twin boys in college, Scott is an enthusiastic reader and sports junkie, with special interest in his favorite team, the Chicago Bears.

GuestCameron Chell, Co-Founder CEO, Draganfly Inc.Websitehttps://draganfly.com/Ticker: DPROBioCameron ChellCEO / PRESIDENTCameron has been a technology entrepreneur for more than 30 years and has spent his career growing a diverse collection of high-potential ideas into revolutionary companies that have changed the way we experience the world.Cameron takes a hands-on leadership role in projects, infusing innovation and adoption with the operational principles of clarity, alignment, and measurement into the culture of every team he works with.

GuestPeter Evans CEO & President Xtract One Technologies Ticker: TSX: XTRAWebsitehttps://xtractone.com/BioPeter Evans has over 25 years of experience leading organizations’ digital transformation and innovation activities for customers in high-growth technology businesses. At Xtract One, Peter is bolstering the physical security technology industry while working to improve the patron experience. With his understanding of the operational challenges customers face, Peter is driving the organization towards delivering tech solutions that replace outdated systems, augment current technology, and enhance existing resources. As a four-time high-tech CEO, Peter has demonstrated repeated success in driving revenue growth and accelerated profitability, by delivering innovative solutions to target markets, and triggered multiple profitable liquidity events. Peter has helped Xtract One transform into an innovative and disruptive company that acquires a broad portfolio of solutions poised for growth by addressing critical security concerns across communities and businesses.Prior to Xtract One, Peter served as a senior executive at several technology and security companies, including IBM, where he was responsible for developing, delivering, and evangelizing the long cycle technical vision and strategy for their Internet Security Systems division. This includes security implications and strategies for Cloud, Telecom, and mobility.

GuestJulina Ogilvie, CIMA®, CPWA®, CEPA®Partner | Wealth AdvisorPrinciple Wealth Author & Host Money Confident Girls Book & Podcast Firm Websitehttps://www.principlewealthpartners.com/Firm AUM $2.5BBio:Julina manages wealth for high-net-worth individuals and families in addition to guiding successful advisors through the firm's succession planning strategy. Prior to joining Principle Wealth Partners, Julina held executive roles at J.P. Morgan Asset Management and Lord Abbett & Co. In these roles, she used her extensive knowledge of the capital markets to educate the country's top advisors.Julina is an accomplished speaker and strategist who has presented wealth management concepts to thousands of financial professionals and clients. She has been recognized for her outstanding achievements and serves as a mentor for young women entering the business. With a passion for financial literacy she created a podcast, Women On Wealth, to empower women on financial concepts. Additionally, she authored Money Confident Girls: A Parents Roadmap to Raising Financially Confident Children (From Toddlers to Teens), further solidifying her commitment to fostering financial competence from an early age.Julina resides in Fairfield, CT with her husband Doug, their daughters Kaylin and Sidney, and two dogs Mudd and Sierra. She currently sits on the Ethics Board of the Investments & Wealth Institute, serves as VP of Finance at the Westport Women's Club, and sits on the Board of Directors at River House Adult Day Center. Julina is an avid skier and triathlete whom qualified for the lronman World Championship in 2024.Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice and it should not be relied on as such. The statements and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the author. PWP cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any statements or data. For current PWP information, please visit the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov by searching with PWP’s CRD #290180.