Tag: Dream Architect Life

How Serendipity & Curiosity Can Shape a Wealthier Life with Sonu Varghese (Ep. 95)

How Serendipity & Curiosity Can Shape a Wealthier Life with Sonu Varghese (Ep. 95)

What if curiosity could be your greatest financial advantage?

Bryan Sweet sits down with Sonu Varghese, VP and Global Macro Strategist at Carson Group, for a conversation that blends mindset and money in unexpected ways.

From growing up in Oman to building a career in finance, Sonu shares how serendipity, curiosity, and courage shaped his life’s direction. He opens up about facing fear, creating his own luck, and learning through every setback. Bryan and Sonu also discuss how curiosity doesn’t just expand your mind, it can strengthen your financial life too, especially when it comes to making smarter, tax-efficient investment decisions that help you keep more of what you earn.

What to expect:

  • How curiosity can lead to life-changing opportunities
  • The link between mindset and financial growth
  • Real examples of turning fear into forward motion
  • The overlooked value of tax-efficient investing
  • And more

Connect With Sonu Varghese:

Connect With Sweet Financial Partners:

About Our Guest:

Sonu has over 15 years of experience in the Asset Management industry. Before joining Carson, he was a Partner and Director of Research at Convex Capital Management where he co-managed portfolios, advised clients and led the research effort, including creating a proprietary leading economic index for 30 countries and systematizing investment processes. Prior to that Sonu worked independently with hedge fund managers and high-net worth individuals to develop quantitative investment models for trading equities, options, ETFs and closed-end funds.

Sonu started his career in finance during the final year of his Ph.D. at Purdue University, when he got an opportunity to do options modeling work. He finished his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering in 2006, with his dissertation focused on simulating blood flow in diseased arteries. However, he decided to pursue finance as he enjoyed the mathematical modeling aspect of it, and the challenges thrown up by human behavior in markets. Prior to his Ph.D., Sonu received his M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue and Bachelors in Engineering from the National Institute of Technology (Trichy) in India.

Sonu and his wife love to travel and are looking forward to doing a lot more of it as their twins grow up. They also enjoy listening to an eclectic selection of music as a family and being outdoors in the city (Chicago weather permitting). At home, you may find him hanging out with the family with a guitar in his hands, cooking or if the kids are asleep, watching TV or reading. He is also passionate about teaching Math – including statistics, probability and personal finance – at the community college in Chicago downtown.

The opinions voiced in The Dream Architect Life Podcast with Bryan Sweet are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine what may be appropriate for you, consult with your attorney, accountant, financial or tax advisor prior to investing. Guests on the show are not affiliated with CWM, LLC. Investment advisory services offered through CWM, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Carson Partners, a division of CWM, LLC, is a nationwide partnership of advisors.

Branding, Fear, and Finding Your Voice with Randi Brill (Ep. 93)

Branding, Fear, and Finding Your Voice with Randi Brill (Ep. 93)

At 25 years old, Randi Brill turned down a promotion, a salary more than double her current one, stock options, a secretary, and a company car. Why? Because she believed in something bigger than the offer on the table.

In this inspiring conversation, Bryan Sweet sits down with Randi to unpack her journey from a quirky, cast-signed nine-year-old entrepreneur to the founder of Just Call Randi, a brand strategy powerhouse for ACEs (Advisors, Collaborators, and Entrepreneurs).

Here’s what to expect:

  • The early entrepreneurial moment that set her path in motion
  • Why fear is often just the fuel you haven’t tapped yet
  • The art of walking away from success to find alignment
  • How redefining your identity can unlock your next chapter
  • And more!

Connect With Sweet Financial Partners:

Connect With Randi Brill:


About Our Guest:

According to her mother, Posy (an extremely reliable source on this particular topic), Randi Brill first announced she was going to be in charge of something at the ripe old age of 14. Randi has been in charge of many creative “somethings” ever since. In her role as Chief Creative Officer of JUST CALL RANDI, the Brand Design Agency exclusively for ACEs: Advisors, Collaborators, and Entrepreneurs, and their growing companies, Randi delivers Differentiation through Brand Design solutions and creative results to help visionaries and their companies soar. And she loves it!

So far, Randi has written and personally designed and published four books under her Randiland Press imprint, including Let Me ENTREtain™ You, One Entrepreneur’s Comical, Poignant, & Very Short Tales to Inspire Yours. This autobiographical “tale of grow,” was a true passion project for Randi, created to help boost the “you-can-do-this,-too” confidence of the entrepreneurs she serves. Check out the flip book excerpt below for a sneak peek at a few of Randi’s earliest entrepreneurial adventures.

The opinions voiced in The Dream Architect Life Podcast with Bryan Sweet and Brittany Anderson are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine what may be appropriate for you, consult with your attorney, accountant, financial or tax advisor prior to investing. Guests on the show are not affiliated with CWM, LLC. Investment advisory services offered through CWM, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Carson Partners, a division of CWM, LLC, is a nationwide partnership of advisors.

Mentorship, Mindset, and Next Big Ideas with Brian Heckert (Ep. 89)

Mentorship, Mindset, and Next Big Ideas with Brian Heckert (Ep. 89)

In this episode of The Dream Architect Life Podcast, Bryan Sweet welcomes long-time friend and fellow study group member Brian Heckert. From small-town beginnings to leading a multi-state advisory firm, Brian shares the principles, mentors, and turning points that shaped his career and life.

Brian discusses:

  • How meeting his wife in first grade shaped his values and vision
  • Why having a “next big idea” matters at every stage of life
  • The role of mentors in guiding personal and professional growth
  • Strategies for staying out of ruts and surrounding yourself with the right people
  • How clarity, core goals, and strong values drive decision-making
  • And more

Connect With Sweet Financial Partners:

Connect With Brian Heckert:

About Our Guest:

Brian Heckert is the past president of the Million Dollar Round Table, leading an organization of 90,000 members worldwide. With decades in the financial services industry, he is known for his visionary leadership, mentorship, and commitment to helping clients and advisors think bigger about what’s possible in their lives. From innovative business models to giving back through community involvement, Brian continues to inspire others to lead with clarity, integrity, and purpose.

The opinions voiced in The Dream Architect Life Podcast with Bryan Sweet and Brittany Anderson are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine what may be appropriate for you, consult with your attorney, accountant, financial or tax advisor prior to investing. Guests on the show are not affiliated with CWM, LLC. Investment advisory services offered through CWM, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Carson Partners, a division of CWM, LLC, is a nationwide partnership of advisors.

Building Confidence in Young Minds with Barry Garapedian (Ep. 81)

Building Confidence in Young Minds with Barry Garapedian (Ep. 81)

What if the key to unlocking your full potential is hidden in letting go of what holds you back?

Join Bryan Sweet on The Dream Architect Life podcast as they dive into an inspiring conversation with Barry Garapedian, a renowned figure in Wall Street and a passionate advocate for empowering young minds. Barry shares his journey from a 39-year career in finance to creating family constitutions and mentoring young adults through the transition to their fullest potential.

Barry discusses: 

  • His transformation from Wall Street to working on family governance and designing impactful family constitutions [00:02:13]
  • The seven pillars that define a winning life and why they are crucial for personal and family planning [00:03:16]
  • Innovative strategies to build self-confidence in young minds through real-life practices like crafting vision boards and creating personalized notes [00:06:52]
  • Tips for young individuals to gain a competitive edge in life, emphasizing the importance of both interpersonal skills and self-presentation [00:17:13]
  • And more

Resources: 

Connect With Sweet Financial Partners:

Connect With Barry Garapedian:

About Our Guest:

Barry Garapedian is the President and CEO of MAG 7 Consulting, a boutique coaching, mentoring, and advisory firm that caters to high-school and college-aged students. The MAG 7 program has distilled and codified key principles of achievement and paths to success that propel young people to meet their highest potentials in all aspects of life.

The opinions voiced in The Dream Architect Life Podcast with Bryan Sweet and Brittany Anderson are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine what may be appropriate for you, consult with your attorney, accountant, financial or tax advisor prior to investing. Guests on the show are not affiliated with CWM, LLC. Investment advisory services offered through CWM, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Carson Partners, a division of CWM, LLC, is a nationwide partnership of advisors.

How Vision and Communication Drive Business Growth with Chad Jenkins (Ep. 80)

How Vision and Communication Drive Business Growth with Chad Jenkins (Ep. 80)

What happens when you embrace collaboration over competition?

Join Bryan Sweet as he engages in an enlightening discussion with visionary Chad Mackay, a dynamic leader recognized by Inc. 5000. Chad shares his journey from a small town in South Carolina to founding over 55 ventures, showcasing his remarkable ability to identify and harness invisible business opportunities.

Bryan and Chad discuss: 

  • How non-verbal communication and life on a farm taught Chad essential business skills (3:04)
  • The transformative power of vision in personal and business growth (8:02)
  • Chad’s approach to collaboration and how it fuels exponential growth (14:46)
  • The significance of identifying and naming your unique value contribution (18:55)
  • And more

Connect With Sweet Financial Partners:

Connect With Chad Jenkins:

About Our Guest:

Chad’s zeal to understand how businesses work allows him to immediately identify invisible opportunities in “the way we have always done it.” His unique approach leverages the innate resources available, igniting a passion for innovation without the need for hefty investments or extended timelines. Chad’s journey began at age eight, turning his first job into a successful business venture, laying the foundation for his entrepreneurial spirit. His remarkable career is highlighted by significant achievements, including recognition in the Inc 5000, initiating over 50 ventures, and pioneering SEEDSPARK CoLAB Partners. When Chad couples his key fundamentals with his natural curiosity, these methods become the game-changers needed to move businesses toward exponential growth.

This talent, what some call his highest value role, has opened the doors for Chad to work directly with leaders of businesses of every size across every industry. By analyzing the various aspects of an organization’s Dangers, Opportunities, and Strengths, Chad can quickly identify invisible opportunities that enable companies to create competitive advantages and increase margins, resulting in exponential enterprise value growth. The result is a proven track record of over forty owned or previously owned high-growth companies and hundreds of CoLAB Partners across North America.

Now focused on helping others, he has passed on leadership in his companies. SEEDSPARK CoLAB Partners, his primary focus, stands out as a testament to his beliefs, aiming to drive growth through visible and actionable opportunities without any upfront cost to the entrepreneur.

 

The opinions voiced in The Dream Architect Life Podcast with Bryan Sweet and Brittany Anderson are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine what may be appropriate for you, consult with your attorney, accountant, financial or tax advisor prior to investing. Guests on the show are not affiliated with CWM, LLC. Investment advisory services offered through CWM, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Carson Partners, a division of CWM, LLC, is a nationwide partnership of advisors.

Chapter 10: Know Your Worth (Ep. 79)

Chapter 10: Know Your Worth (Ep. 79)

What does it really mean to live your best life in retirement?

Join Bryan Sweet as he dives into the final chapter of our audiobook, Dream Architecture: Build a Retirement Beyond What’s Possible. This episode goes beyond numbers and retirement statistics to explore how a strong sense of self-worth can transform your retirement journey. Discover how you can shift your mindset to focus on what truly matters—living richly rather than dying rich.

This chapter covers: 

  • Self-worth and its connection to achieving your biggest dreams (02:34)
  • Shifting the retirement focus from money to life fulfillment (05:20)
  • Creating positive momentum through tiny habits (14:10)
  • And more

Resources: 

Connect With Sweet Financial Partners:

The opinions voiced in The Dream Architect Life Podcast with Bryan Sweet and Brittany Anderson are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine what may be appropriate for you, consult with your attorney, accountant, financial or tax advisor prior to investing. Guests on the show are not affiliated with CWM, LLC. Investment advisory services offered through CWM, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Carson Partners, a division of CWM, LLC, is a nationwide partnership of advisors.