Stephen Pine is the Vice President and Equity Partner at Patterson & Associates Insurance, where he has spent more than 23 years helping businesses reduce risk through strategic commercial insurance and risk management. Beyond his corporate career, he is an investor in private equity, technology companies, and large-scale sports facilities, while also competing in IFBB bodybuilding and serving in church leadership. His unique combination of executive leadership, investing, fitness, and faith gives him a rare perspective on building long-term wealth and purpose.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How Stephen went from earning $12,000 a year to becoming an equity partner
• Why ownership—not salary—is the real path to long-term wealth
• The investing principles that create generational wealth
• How to choose the right investment partners and opportunities
• Why relationships are the greatest asset in both business and investing
• Balancing executive leadership, family, fitness, and faith
• The mindset required to stay disciplined through every season of success
• Defining legacy beyond money and career achievement

About the Podcast

The Legacy & Wealth Podcast, hosted by Mitchell Clark and presented by The Standard, features conversations with entrepreneurs, executives, investors, and high-performing men who are building wealth, leadership, and legacy. Each episode explores the decisions, habits, and experiences that help successful men create lasting impact in business, family, and life.

Timestamps

00:00 Why income alone doesn't create wealth
00:53 Introduction to Stephen Pine
01:23 Building a 23-year career in commercial insurance
03:23 From $1,000 a month to equity ownership
05:05 How earning equity transformed his career
07:06 Selling value instead of competing on price
11:05 Risk management and helping businesses reduce costs
18:27 Building a book of business from scratch
21:19 The first moments Stephen knew he would succeed
26:02 Transitioning from top producer to leader and mentor
34:23 Investing to build generational wealth
41:20 Why wealthy people build relationships with other wealthy people
45:59 Consistency beats motivation every time
47:16 Fitness, bodybuilding, and pursuing an IFBB Pro Card
58:45 Faith, church leadership, and serving others
01:04:40 Why Stephen joined The Standard
01:09:18 What legacy really means

About The Standard

The Standard is a private, in-person membership community for six-figure men who want to grow in their wealth, health, and relationships by surrounding themselves with other high-performing men operating at their level or above. It is designed for men who have outgrown their current environment and need a structured system of proximity, personalized strategy, and accountability to continue growing across every area of life.

Learn more: https://thestandardmen.com

Join The Standard here: Thestandardmen.com

Jay Davis is a technology consultant, real estate investor, and men's leader based in Atlanta. He specializes in technology infrastructure, cloud migrations, and mergers and acquisitions, helping organizations navigate complex business transitions. Beyond his professional career, Jay serves as a liaison within The Standard and leads men's ministry efforts at his church, where he mentors and develops men in leadership, faith, family, and personal growth.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How mentorship changed the trajectory of Jay's life and career
• Building a successful career in technology without a traditional path
• The importance of accountability, ownership, and reputation in business
• Why high-performing men often struggle with isolation
• The role of faith, vulnerability, and emotional intelligence in leadership
• Balancing career ambition with family responsibilities
• Lessons on raising children and building strong relationships
• What true wealth and legacy actually mean

About the Podcast

The Legacy & Wealth Podcast, hosted by Mitchell Clark and presented by The Standard, features conversations with entrepreneurs, executives, investors, and high-performing men who are building wealth, leadership, and legacy. Each episode explores the principles, decisions, and experiences that help successful men create impact in business, family, and life.

Timestamps

00:00 What true wealth really means
00:53 Introduction to Jay Davis
01:39 Building a career in technology and real estate
02:12 Growing up in Atlanta and early life challenges
02:44 Leaving college after his mother's stroke
03:10 The mentor who changed everything
04:34 Three years of learning technology and discipline
08:14 Landing his first opportunity in tech
09:44 Building business through referrals and networking
12:15 Accountability, ownership, and handling mistakes
15:00 Why no one succeeds alone
15:36 Inside technology mergers and acquisitions
20:05 Why small businesses are often underserved
27:58 How Jay mentors the next generation
30:30 Finding brotherhood through The Standard
34:11 Building stronger men across the five pillars
36:18 Leading men's ministry and discipleship
42:17 Why men struggle with vulnerability
45:59 Faith, leadership, and leading by example
47:14 Family, fatherhood, and raising three daughters
48:09 The myth of work-life balance
50:49 Emotional intelligence and unresolved childhood patterns
54:39 Repairing relationships through accountability
58:30 Building trust and communication with your children
01:00:43 Helping children navigate pressure and expectations
01:02:20 Defining legacy and living with purpose
01:04:04 Why wealth is about more than money
01:05:00 How to connect with Jay Davis

About The Standard

The Standard is a private, in-person membership community for six-figure men who want to grow in their wealth, health, and relationships by surrounding themselves with other high-performing men operating at their level or above. It is designed for men who have outgrown their current environment and need a structured system of proximity, personalized strategy, and accountability to continue growing across every area of life.

Learn more: https://thestandardmen.com

Brandon Bartoldi is an entrepreneur, investor, and founder of Prosper Firm, a financial services platform that helps business owners, real estate investors, and founders gain access to capital. Throughout his career, he has worked in healthcare leadership, project management, strategic planning, private equity, mergers and acquisitions, real estate investing, and business finance. He has built multiple businesses, developed a multi-million-dollar real estate portfolio, and was recognized as Broker of the Year within a national lending network.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The transition from corporate executive to entrepreneur
• How proximity and relationships shape success
• Why failure is a necessary part of wealth creation
• Building financial freedom through business ownership
• Lessons learned from private equity and acquisitions
• The role of faith, purpose, and mindset in entrepreneurship
• Balancing ambition, marriage, and raising young children
• What legacy really means beyond money and assets

About the Podcast

The Legacy & Wealth Podcast, hosted by Mitchell Clark and presented by The Standard, features conversations with entrepreneurs, executives, investors, and high-performing men who are building wealth, leadership, and legacy. Each episode explores the principles, decisions, and experiences that help successful men create impact in business, family, and life.

Timestamps

00:00 Building wealth, family, and legacy
00:42 Introduction to Brandon Bartoldi
01:36 What Prosper Firm does and how it generates value
04:02 Growing up in Pittsburgh and early entrepreneurial influences
05:45 How network marketing changed Brandon's life
07:18 Reaching the top 1% of Amway at 25 years old
08:02 Corporate leadership, healthcare, and private equity
09:28 Discovering the lending and finance industry
10:32 Getting laid off and making the entrepreneurial leap
13:42 Why some people leave corporate America—and others don't
20:53 The law of association and surrounding yourself with winners
27:36 Why failure is required for success
31:27 Defining financial freedom
35:01 Building a business that creates freedom
38:47 The surprising source of fulfillment and happiness
41:22 How Prosper Firm helps investors and business owners
48:01 The $100,000 investment that changed everything
52:31 Building a business through relationships and referrals
57:02 Why Brandon joined The Standard
01:00:22 Entrepreneurship, marriage, and raising two children
01:04:34 What legacy really means
01:08:43 Final thoughts and where to connect with Brandon

About The Standard

The Standard is a private, in-person membership community for six-figure men who want to grow in their wealth, health, and relationships by surrounding themselves with other high-performing men operating at their level or above. It is designed for men who have outgrown their current environment and need a structured system of proximity, personalized strategy, and accountability to continue growing across every area of life.

Learn more: https://thestandardmen.com