What separates leaders who build lasting legacies from those who constantly play defense?

In Episode 211 of The Jay Young Show, Jay Young and Jordan Soho sit down with Leo Kelly, Founder & CEO of Verdence Capital Advisors—an entrepreneur who didn’t inherit a firm but built one from the ground up.

Leo shares firsthand insight on what most advisors underestimate about scaling a business, how being an entrepreneur changes the way you advise entrepreneurs, and why proactive decision-making matters more than ever in volatile markets.

Together, they explore:

• Why reactive wealth planning often costs families more in the long run
• Where business owners wait too long to act, and how to avoid it
• How founders can align wealth, legacy, and family harmony
• What today’s economic cycle gets wrong, and what leaders should focus on instead
• How to stay disciplined and proactive when markets get noisy and emotional

The conversation also dives into energy security, private capital, and real assets, highlighting why oil & gas and cash-flowing investments are back at the center of serious capital allocation discussions.

Jay’s Weekly Five Highlights:

• Word of the Week: Proactive — why acting early beats waiting for certainty
• Verse of the Week: Proverbs 16:3 — faith, preparation, and aligned action
• Books: Atomic Habits (James Clear) & The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (Stephen Covey)
• Podcasts: The Tim Ferriss Show & How I Built This
• Shows: Billions and Succession — lessons in power, ego, and what happens when leaders fail to act early

The episode wraps with a powerful reflection:
When you look back 20 years from now, what decision are you most glad you made early instead of late?

If you care about leadership, markets, family legacy, and making decisions before pressure forces your hand, this episode is for you.