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.

David A. Perez is the CEO of Tax Maverick, a company that empowers tax professionals by providing technology and AI solutions to enhance their tax advisory services. Under his leadership, Tax Maverick has significantly expanded its reach, transitioning from individual taxpayer services to assisting tax professionals nationwide with impactful tax strategies. David is a renowned tax strategist, bestselling author, and developer of the proprietary 3% Formula, which enables high-income earners to legally minimize their tax liabilities and invest in wealth-building assets like real estate. Through his book Building Your Own Economy and the BYOE Conference, he inspires individuals to take control of their financial futures and build lasting wealth.

Building a scalable business while maintaining exceptional client service is a hurdle every entrepreneur faces. As demand grows, so do the cracks in fulfillment, time management, and team capacity. So, how do you grow your impact without burning out or sacrificing quality?

David A. Perez, a tax strategist and advisor, shares how he overcame these challenges by shifting from direct client service to empowering professionals with tools, training, and AI. He emphasizes the importance of documenting processes, understanding your customers deeply, and focusing relentlessly on one core product. David explains how leveraging AI can close the knowledge gap in professional services, enabling advisors to offer more value and stand out in a commoditized market.

In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker interviews David A. Perez, CEO of Tax Maverick, about empowering tax professionals through AI-driven advisory tools. David discusses the value of strategic focus, how to productize expertise, and the shift from compliance work to high-value consulting. He also shares insights on attracting financial advisors, building tech without a tech background, and improving client experience through education.