Marla Sofer is the Founder and CEO of Knomee, a fintech platform that empowers individuals to align their financial decisions with their personal values and goals. With over two decades of experience in financial services — including leadership roles at JP Morgan, BlackRock, Microsoft, and Carta — she has consistently championed client-centric innovation in the industry. Motivated by the industry's shortcomings in truly understanding clients, Marla launched Knomee to redefine client discovery through behavioral science and self-reflection. Beyond her professional endeavors, she is a renowned speaker on financial services evolution and a passionate advocate for women's empowerment.

Financial advisors often believe they understand their clients well, yet many rely on shallow, one-size-fits-all planning strategies. The industry's product-driven incentives and limited client engagement usually prevent advisors from exploring what motivates their clients. How can financial professionals move beyond basic data points to foster deeper, more meaningful client relationships?

Marla Sofer, a seasoned financial services expert with over 20 years of experience across banking, asset management, and fintech, shares that most advisors lack the tools and frameworks to dig deeper into the values and goals of their clients. She emphasizes the importance of guided self-discovery and behavioral insight to replace outdated planning models. Marla explains how advisors can encourage clients to reflect on what brings them joy, articulate their goals in greater detail, and build trust by moving beyond conventional metrics like age or retirement numbers. These techniques differentiate an advisor’s practice, leading to stronger engagement and retention.

In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker interviews Marla Sofer, Founder and CEO of Knomee, about redefining financial planning through behavioral science. Marla discusses how self-reflection leads to smarter financial decisions, the challenges of legacy planning, advisor-client dynamics, and the need for scalable client segmentation. She also shares her entrepreneurial journey, leadership influences, and long-term vision for the industry.

Joshua D. Rogers is the Founder and CEO of Arete Wealth, a Chicago-based financial services firm specializing in alternative investments, venture capital, and private equity. Under his leadership, the firm has expanded to over 100 offices and more than 320 advisors nationwide, providing comprehensive wealth management for high-net-worth individuals and institutions. Before founding Arete Wealth, Joshua co-invented several patents at Walker Digital, including the “Name Your Own Price” e-commerce model behind Priceline.com. He is also an active member of the financial and cultural communities, having served on FINRA’s National Adjudicatory Council and as a trustee of the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.​

Many business leaders struggle to scale without sacrificing their company’s core culture. As firms grow, bureaucracy and investor pressure often dilute the original values that made them successful. Is it possible to expand a business while maintaining its sense of mission, ethics, and community?

Joshua D. Rogers, an expert in wealth management and leadership, offers a compelling answer rooted in intentionality and personal conviction. He emphasizes the importance of creating a company culture that attracts the right people — elite professionals who value autonomy, collaboration, and purpose. Joshua advocates for human-centered leadership, ethical decision-making, and a boutique mindset, even at a mid-size scale. Through face-to-face engagement and clear cultural values, Joshua maintains an environment where advisors and clients feel personally valued and professionally empowered.

In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker interviews Joshua D. Rogers, CEO of Arete Wealth, about preserving company culture while growing a financial services firm. Joshua shares his thoughts on leading without private equity backing, building trust through ethical practices, and humanizing technology. He also discusses advisor recruitment strategies, the impact of market cycles on firm growth, and the influence of classical philosophy on modern leadership.

Adi Klevit is the Founder and CEO of Business Success Consulting Group, which identifies, creates, and documents processes to help businesses scale. She has 25 years of experience as a trained industrial engineer, management consultant, and business executive. With this knowledge, Adi helps organizations and companies improve efficiency and performance.

Running a business without clear systems can leave leaders feeling overwhelmed, overworked, and stuck in a cycle of inefficiency. As teams grow and operations expand, the lack of documented processes can lead to inconsistency, bottlenecks, and a poor customer experience. How can entrepreneurs gain more freedom and control without sacrificing growth?

Adi Klevit, an expert in business systems and process implementation, outlines a powerful framework for building scalable operations. She emphasizes that freedom comes not from delegation alone but from implementing documented processes that empower teams and improve consistency. She shares actionable strategies for creating buy-in from staff, cultivating a process-driven mindset, and using AI tools to streamline operations. From identifying bottlenecks to optimizing workflows, Adi offers a practical roadmap for founders looking to reclaim their time and scale sustainably.

In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker interviews Adi Klevit, Founder of Business Success Consulting Group, about how structured systems give entrepreneurs freedom. Adi explains how process documentation leads to better customer experiences, smoother operations, and empowered teams. She also discusses the importance of mindset, leveraging AI agents, and driving team engagement through ownership.