Episode 70 | The Builders Table with Sarah Gould (Part 1) Building Financial Agency: Leading Your Business with Confidence

Episode 70 | The Builders Table with Sarah Gould (Part 2) The Financial Climber ProfilesTM: How Your Relationship with Money Shapes the Way You Lead What if the way you manage money isn't just financial-what if it's behavioral? And what if those behaviors are influencing how you lead your team, make investments, respond to risk, pursue opportunities, and ultimately scale your business? In Part Two of our special Builders Table series, Julie Walz sits down again with Sarah Gould, Founder & CEO of Elevated Advisory & Accounting, to explore the Financial Climber ProfilesTM-four behavioral profiles that help business owners better understand their relationship with money and how it shows up in the way they lead. A Quick Recap of Part One In Episode 66, Julie and Sarah introduced the idea of financial agency-moving beyond simply knowing what's in your bank account to developing the financial confidence and understanding necessary to lead a business intentionally. They explored how our relationship with money can influence profitability, cash flow, decision-making, leadership, and growth. The message was simple but powerful: Revenue is vanity. Profit is sanity. And cash flow is queen. Part Two takes that conversation one step further. Because knowing your numbers matters-but understanding the behavior behind your numbers may tell you even more. Meet the Financial Climber ProfilesTM Are you The OverpackerTM? You carry the financial weight of everyone around you. You make sure your employees are taken care of-sometimes before you pay yourself. You may spend more on benefits, compensation, or resources because you don't want to disappoint your team, even when the business may need you to establish stronger financial boundaries. Are you The TrailblazerTM? You see opportunity and you're ready to move. A new machine, new system, expansion, investment, or big idea can quickly become, "Let's make it happen." Your willingness to act can create tremendous momentum-but moving before the financial strategy, cash flow, or infrastructure is ready can also create risk. Are you The PacerTM? You want one more certification. One more spreadsheet. One more analysis. One more set of numbers before you're willing to make the decision. Being thoughtful is a strength-until careful analysis becomes analysis paralysis, leaving you and your team waiting at a financial or operational roadblock. Or are you The FogwalkerTM? You'd rather not look too closely. You may spend without completely understanding what's available, operate without a clear budget, or make decisions based on what you hope is coming rather than what the numbers are actually telling you. These aren't labels designed to put business owners into boxes. They're a financial mirror. Sarah and Julie explore the strengths, vulnerabilities, and leadership tendencies within each profile and discuss how greater awareness can help business owners make more intentional financial decisions. Because your relationship with money doesn't stay in your bank account. It shows up in the way you lead. In This Episode • A recap of financial agency and the lessons from Episode 66 • Understanding the four Financial Climber ProfilesTM • The OverpackerTM and financial self-sacrifice • The TrailblazerTM and the drive to pursue opportunity • The PacerTM and the cost of analysis paralysis • The FogwalkerTM and financial avoidance • How money behaviors influence leadership and management • How financial patterns affect employees and team culture • Recognizing the difference between calculated risk and financial fear • Understanding how your financial behavior can influence growth and scalability • Identifying strengths and blind spots within your own profile • Developing greater awareness around the financial decisions you make Which Financial Climber ProfileTM sounds most like you? About Sarah Gould Sarah Gould is the Founder & CEO of Elevated Advisory & Accounting, a women-owned advisory and accounting firm helping business owners gain clarity, confidence, and long-term financial stability. Sarah has built a modern advisory practice focused on moving business owners beyond traditional accounting and into strategic financial leadership. Through advisory services, fractional CFO support, and long-term business planning, she helps organizations strengthen profitability, improve cash-flow visibility, build scalable systems, and make confident decisions through every stage of growth. Currently a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) Candidate through NACVA, Sarah is expanding her expertise in business valuation to better serve business owners through strategic planning, acquisitions, growth modeling, and exit readiness. Over the past decade, she has advised hundreds of organizations across construction, healthcare, nonprofits, real estate, manufacturing, and professional services, translating complex financial information into practical strategies leaders can confidently implement. As a female founder in a traditionally male-dominated industry, Sarah is passionate about creating opportunities for women to lead, build, and thrive in business. Her leadership philosophy centers on transparency, empowerment, excellence, and authentic partnership. Beyond her work with clients, Sarah serves on the Executive Committee for Montana West Economic Development and on the Board of Directors for the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce, helping strengthen economic opportunity throughout Northwest Montana. A proud Montana native, Sarah enjoys golfing, spending time with family, and exploring the mountains that continue to inspire the Elevated brand. Learn more about Sarah and Elevated Advisory & Accounting: https://www.elevatedaccounting.com About The Builders Table The Builders Table is a signature segment and growing business community within IWD406 created for the people building businesses, brands, organizations, nonprofits, and ideas across Montana. It's where business owners, founders, experts, creatives, executives, and community leaders come together to share what they're learning-not just what they've accomplished. Through podcast conversations, educational content, community discussions, referrals, resources, collaborations, and shared expertise, The Builders Table is creating a space where Montana business owners can learn from one another and build stronger businesses together. We believe some of the most valuable business education doesn't always happen in a classroom. Sometimes it happens around the table. Builders Table Collaboration Opportunities Have expertise that could help another Montana business owner build smarter, stronger, or more sustainably? There's a seat for you at The Builders Table. We're actively developing collaborations with business leaders, founders, educators, service providers, industry experts, and organizations interested in contributing practical knowledge and resources to Montana's business community. Opportunities to Collaborate Include: • Educational podcast conversations and expert interviews • Builders Table workshops and mini educational sessions • Business development resources and practical tools • Expert-led Table Talks and community conversations • Written insights and educational contributions • Business referrals and strategic introductions • Community partnerships • Brand and business features • Collaborative events and programming • Sponsorship and underwriting opportunities • Multimedia educational and storytelling collaborations Whether your expertise is in finance, accounting, marketing, branding, sales, AI, technology, operations, leadership, HR, legal, business development, entrepreneurship, or another area that helps businesses grow, we want The Builders Table to become a place where expertise is shared and meaningful business connections are made. If you have something valuable to bring to the table, we'd love to hear from you. Visit www.IWD406.com to connect and learn more. Looking for Podcast Sponsors & Community Partners? The IWD406 Podcast is a Montana-based digital storytelling and awareness platform reaching audiences through authentic conversations, multimedia storytelling, online communities, signature events, and digital publications. We're currently seeking podcast sponsors, business collaborators, and strategic community partners interested in connecting with an engaged Montana audience. Partnership Opportunities Include: • Individual podcast episode sponsorships • Multi-episode and series sponsorships • Presenting partnerships for The Builders Table and The Gathering Table • Advertising opportunities in the IWD406 Anthology • Brand storytelling and featured business profiles • Community event partnerships • Social media amplification and digital campaigns • Educational and expert collaborations • Custom multimedia marketing partnerships If your business or organization wants to reach people who are building businesses, leading organizations, creating ideas, and making an impact throughout Montana, we'd love to connect. Visit www.IWD406.com to learn more about sponsorship, advertising, collaboration, and partnership opportunities. Together, we're creating more opportunities to learn, connect, collaborate, and build. 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