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For the 100th episode of In The Suite, I’m sitting down with the woman who made the very first power move in my life — my mother, Joanne Sutera.

Long before there were downloads in over 133 countries, before sponsors, before a microphone ever turned on, there was one listener. Her. She believed in this work before there was proof it mattered.

Joanne’s life is a masterclass in reinvention. She grew up the oldest of nine children in a chaotic household and went on welfare as a teenager. At 18, she left home. At 19, she boarded a bus to New York with $30 in her pocket and no clear roadmap. She became a single mother and sole provider, put herself through nursing school, and later returned to earn her bachelor’s degree as an adult student determined to see the world through an educated lens.

Over the decades, she built careers in healthcare, entrepreneurship, and international business. She worked inside small, privately held companies, ran operations in a high-end salon, handled international sales, and later taught computer classes aboard an international cruise line. Retirement didn’t slow her down. It marked another reinvention — this time as a published poet and longtime docent at Grounds For Sculpture.

This conversation is about education as an exit strategy, reinvention at every stage of life, and the courage to leave situations that no longer serve you. It’s about resilience as a daily practice, not a personality trait. And it’s also about walking through one of the hardest chapters of our lives together as I navigate lung cancer, choosing to stay engaged, creative, and present in the middle of uncertainty.

If you are navigating change, considering a bold move, or wondering whether it’s too late to start again, this episode is for you.

Thank you for being here for 100 episodes.

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I’m joined by Ryan Goldenhar and Jackie Lewis, the powerhouse duo behind Wealth with Options, a San Diego–based firm helping tech professionals make sense of equity compensation, major liquidity events, and the emotional decisions that come with sudden or complex wealth.

Ryan and Jackie bring a rare combination of technical rigor and humanity to financial planning—meeting clients not just where the numbers are, but where their values, fears, ambitions, and life transitions live.

Together, we unpack what equity compensation really means, why money decisions are never “just spreadsheets,” and how true wealth is ultimately about freedom, clarity, and choice.

This conversation is especially relevant for tech executives navigating RSUs, ISOs, IPOs, job transitions, or the question many silently ask: “What is all this money actually for?”

Important Disclosures:
Jackie Lewis and Ryan Goldenhar offer investment advisory services through Mariner Platform Solutions, LLC (“MPS”), an SEC-registered investment adviser. Wealth With Options and MPS are separate, unaffiliated entities. For additional information about MPS, including fees and services, please refer to Form ADV Part 2A, which is available on the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website (www.adviserinfo.sec.gov). Registration of an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training.

This podcast episode includes statements by Tina Powell of Intention.ly. Intention.ly is a marketing firm that is compensated by Wealth With Options to provide marketing and related services. This compensation creates a conflict of interest, as Intention.ly has a financial incentive to promote Wealth With Options and its services. Statements made by Intention.ly should not be construed as independent or unbiased. This endorsement is not a guarantee of future results or client experience.

Discussion of careers in technology companies and equity-based compensation, including stock options, is provided for general informational purposes only. Stock options and other forms of equity compensation do not guarantee wealth creation. Outcomes vary significantly based on company performance, market conditions, vesting terms, concentration risk, tax considerations, and individual circumstances.

Any examples or scenarios discussed are illustrative only and should not be interpreted as indicative of typical or expected results. Nothing discussed should be construed as individualized investment, tax, legal, or employment advice, or as a recommendation to pursue any particular employment or compensation structure. Any opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice.

There is no assurance that any investment, plan, or strategy will be successful. Investing involves risk

🤩 Thanks for listening, we appreciate your support and 5-star reviews of our show!!!

❤️ Please follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/inthesuitepod/

📧 Want to get in touch? Email me at tina@growintentionally.com

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In this episode of In the Suite, host Tina Powell sits down with Marla Sofer, fintech founder and visionary behind Knomee, the AI-powered behavioral finance platform helping advisors uncover their clients’ financial identity.

With 25+ years across JP Morgan, BlackRock, and Lending Club, Marla shares how she turned industry experience into innovation — building technology that connects advisors and clients at the human level.

We explore:

• The birth of “financial identity” and what it means for personalization in wealth
• How AI enhances trust, empathy, and client connection
• The vulnerability gap in women’s wealth conversations
• How to build women’s networks inside financial firms
• The transformative power of imagining your “future self”

Resources Mentioned:

• Knomee Website
• Knowing Me Knowing You Podcast
• Knomee Wealth Leadership Roundtables
• Hidden Brain Podcast
  
  

⏱ Chapter Markers:
00:00 – Welcome + Why Marla’s story matters
01:08 – From JP Morgan & BlackRock to founding Knomee
04:29 – What Knomee is and who it’s for
09:00 – Behavioral finance and risk redefined
13:24 – The idea behind “financial identity”
17:35 – How often clients should re-engage with Knomee
21:43 – The role of AI in creating connection
26:26 – The vulnerability gap for women and wealth
33:03 – Building women’s networks inside firms
36:26 – How to start a women’s initiative that lasts
39:15 – Advice for women aiming for the C-suite
43:06 – Launching the “Knowing Me, Knowing You” podcast
46:45 – Nomi at Future Proof and Wealth Leadership Roundtables
48:47 – Best health + wellness tip: find your posse

🤩 Thanks for listening, we appreciate your support and 5-star reviews of our show!!!

❤️ Please follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/inthesuitepod/

📧 Want to get in touch? Email me at tina@growintentionally.com