Empowering 1,000 Latino Business Owners to Eradicate Generational Poverty; Build Generational Wealth

When I was 13 years old, the IRS showed up at the doorstep of my father’s business. My dad hadn’t filed taxes in two years. That day, I picked up a tax book, read it cover to cover, did his return in pencil, and mailed it in. That was the first tax return I ever completed—and it set me on the path I’ve walked ever since.

Fast forward to 2025. I’ve had the privilege of building multiple businesses and serving families through International Private Wealth Advisors, alongside my business partner, Daniel Guillen. And now, together, we’re launching a new venture: Corazón Financial Advocates.

Our mission is bold: to empower 1,000 Latino business owners across the country to help change the financial trajectory of their communities—shifting mindsets, breaking cycles of poverty, and building and protecting wealth for generations to come.

Why Corazon?

When I left my corporate career in the early 1990s to return to the barrio, I discovered something devastating: most people weren’t receiving culturally competent, ethical financial advice. Too often, they were being sold products they didn’t need—cash-value life insurance policies, annuities, or real estate deals disguised as “financial advice.” And this problem still exists.

That’s why we created Corazón—to transform people with heart into trusted financial advocates. Through comprehensive financial planning training and ethical insurance education, we’re raising up a new generation of professionals who will serve their communities with integrity.

As my wife, Angie, often says: “You can teach anything to anyone, but you can’t teach heart.”

Breaking Barriers

The financial services industry constantly talks about wanting more diversity. Yet, barriers remain—especially bachelor’s degree requirements for certain designations. Many in our community don’t pursue or complete college because of rising costs or the urgent need to support their families.

Daniel knows this firsthand. He was the first in his family to attend college, but he left before finishing his degree to help with household finances. That didn’t stop him. He forged his own path, earned advanced designations, and has become one of the most capable advisors I know. But to this day, he can’t hold the CFP® designation (even though he’s completed all the coursework for it) because of that missing degree.

I’ve hired many professionals like Daniel over the years—brilliant, ethical, passionate people who never earned a bachelor’s degree but are better financial planners and advocates than most. Corazon is for them: the hardworking, mission-driven Latinos who have always had the heart to serve but never had a clear path into this profession.

What We’re Building

At Corazón, we’re not just training people—we’re equipping them to build sustainable businesses of their own. We’ll share the blueprint I created in my books Small Business, Big Life and Small Business, Big Life for Women so they can launch businesses that thrive while serving their communities.

Through the Corazón Academy, advocates will receive training in:

• Financial, Tax, and Insurance Planning

• Retirement and Special Needs Planning

• Estate and College Planning

• Business Management

• Public Speaking & Coaching

And unlike many firms, our advocates don’t have sales quotas. Their success will be measured by how well they educate, empower, and impact their communities—not by how much or how many products they sell. The question we use to measure their success is: How many families did you help today? 

All You Need Is Heart

We know many companies will try to “tap into” the Latino market. But Corazón is different. We’re not here to take advantage—we’re here to invest in our people. We’re from the community and we care about their financial well being. 

If you have heart, a growth mindset, and a passion for service, you don’t need a bachelor’s degree to make a difference. What you need is the will to learn, the courage to serve, and the desire to build a business that will impact lives for generations. Apply here. We’re extending the deadline to this coming Thursday for the first cohort that starts Sept. 23. But don’t let that stop you from applying as we will consider you for future cohorts. 

We’ve made the mistakes in our business so you don’t have to. We’re teaching you all the lessons we’ve learned over our decades in this industry. And now, we’re inviting others to join us in building a community of 1,000 Latino business owners who will change the future of financial advocacy—con corazón.