The Real Estate Success Podcast

Leland Gross CFP®, EA

Welcome to the Real Estate Success Podcast, hosted by Leland Gross of PeaceLink Financial Planning. Here we unlock the secrets to thriving in the competitive world of real estate. If you are a REALTOR®, agent, or aspiring real estate entrepreneur, this podcast is your go-to resource for actionable insights and inspiration. Join us as we interview industry-leading realtors who share their journeys, strategies, and lessons learned on the path to success. Additionally, we dive deep into the financial keys to building and sustaining a profitable real estate business. From scaling your operations to mastering your finances, we cover the tools and techniques you need to excel. Subscribe now to level up your real estate career and join a community of ambitious professionals striving for success. Let's make your real estate dreams a reality!

  1. FEB 26

    Garrett Maroon | Turning the Lights On: A Real Estate Story of Risk, Faith, and Resilience

    Welcome to the Real Estate Success Podcast, where we dive into the personal journeys behind professional success. My guest on today’s podcast is Garrett Maroon—a man whose story embodies faith, grit, and purpose. From a steady W-2 role to launching a referral-based real estate business that’s sold over 650 homes, Garrett didn’t step into entrepreneurship with a full game plan. He stepped in with borrowed belief—from his wife, his business partner, and mentors who saw something in him before he saw it in himself. In this episode, Garrett opens up about the early leap into real estate. He shares what it means to go from being self-employed to becoming a true business owner, the pain of loss that shaped his mission, and how his faith fuels the 210 Collective, a national community for Christian real estate agents. Whether you're an agent in your first year or a seasoned business owner wrestling with the weight of leadership, this conversation offers clarity, encouragement, and a bold reminder that your identity isn’t your title—it’s how you live out your calling. Stick around through Garrett’s candid story of his worst first client, the lessons learned in dark rooms, and how he now defines success—not just in profit, but in presence at home. Let’s get into it. Connect with Garrett: 📱 Instagram: @garrettmaroon 📞 Text Garrett directly: 804-878-2200 🌐 Learn more: thefaithfulagent.com Keywords: Real estate, entrepreneurship, faith, business growth, mindset, success, referral business, leadership, financial strategy Take the Financial Health Assessment at realestatesuccesspod.com Get in touch with PeaceLink: Website: PeaceLink Financial Planning Instagram: @peacelinkfp

    41 min
  2. JAN 21

    East Coast to East Coast: Laura Blackwood’s Mission Across Countries and Communities

    My guest on today’s podcast is Laura Blackwood, a dynamic real estate professional whose journey began on the east coast of Mexico and led her to build a thriving real estate career in Hampton Roads, Virginia. With roots in psychology and education, Laura unexpectedly found her calling in real estate through a college side job—and what began as a way to earn extra income turned into a lifelong passion and international business. But when love and a global pandemic rerouted her path to the United States, Laura was faced with the daunting challenge of starting over in a completely new market. From navigating a new country’s licensing, banking, and real estate systems to unlearning everything she knew and relearning it from scratch—Laura shares how she rebuilt a business from zero with grace, grit, and gratitude. You’ll hear how she turned a difficult, failed deal into a mission to serve the Hispanic community, the power of humility in high-stakes transitions, and how saying “yes” to the early hard work laid the foundation for long-term success. If you’re looking for inspiration, tactical wisdom, and a reminder of why purpose matters in this business—this episode is for you. So with that introduction, I hope you enjoy this episode of the Real Estate Success Podcast with Laura Blackwood. Find Laura Blackwood: https://www.laurablackwoodrealtor.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurablackwoodrealtor/Take the Financial Health Assessment at realestatesuccesspod.com Get in touch with PeaceLink: Website: PeaceLink Financial Planning Instagram: @peacelinkfp

    37 min
  3. JAN 7

    Confident Cashflow Management for Realtors | What Works Wednesday with Leland Gross

    Many real estate professionals are great at making money but still feel stressed about cash. Commissions come in, deals get funded, life keeps moving, but somehow it feels like there is never quite enough liquidity when it matters most. In this episode of What Works Wednesday, Leland and Cody unpack the critical aspects of cash flow management for realtors: knowing how much cash to keep, where to keep it, and when to put it to work. They talk through the real risks of having too little cash, the often-overlooked risks of holding too much, and why relying on credit can quietly erode long-term stability. They discuss a practical framework for creating cash buffers in both your business and personal life, including how to think about emergency funds, seasonality in real estate income, and simple guardrails that help remove stress from everyday financial decisions. If you want to build real wealth without constantly feeling like you are juggling cash, this episode will help you lay a stronger foundation. Keywords: cash flow, real estate, emergency fund, financial planning, investment risks, liquidity, wealth building, personal finance, realtor tips, cash management Chapters: 00:00 Understanding Cash Flow Management for Realtors 05:22 The Importance of Emergency Funds 11:17 Balancing Cash Reserves and Investment Opportunities 16:01 Creating a Financial Plan for Realtors 19:50 RESP logo Audio Waves Outro.mp4 Take the Financial Health Assessment at realestatesuccesspod.com Get in touch with PeaceLink: Website: PeaceLink Financial Planning Instagram: @peacelinkfp

    21 min
  4. 11/13/2025

    Julian Rivera: The DJ-Turned-Diamond Realtor Taking Over Hampton Roads

    Welcome back to The Real Estate Success Podcast! Today’s episode is an unforgettable ride through grit, growth, and the relentless pursuit of purpose. My guest on today’s podcast is the one and only DJ Julian Rivera—entrepreneur, community leader, owner of Iron Valley Real Estate Norfolk, and a man whose fingerprints are on some of the most impactful ventures in Hampton Roads. From spinning records at clubs in high school to managing national retail chains, launching his own entertainment business, and eventually becoming a top-producing Realtor and brokerage owner, Julian’s story is anything but linear. It's a story of redemption, reinvention, and relentless consistency. He shares openly about his early setbacks—including time in jail—and how those moments shaped the man he is today: a father of five, a local entertainment legend, and a powerhouse in real estate leadership. What stands out most is Julian’s unapologetic authenticity. Whether he’s rocking an event or sitting at a listing table in jeans and Jordans, he’s showing up fully himself—and it’s exactly what sets him apart. This conversation is packed with gold: how he overcame limiting beliefs, built businesses from scratch, learned to bet on himself, and why he believes doing right by people always pays back tenfold. If you're someone who’s chasing something bigger, wondering how to balance ambition with purpose, or need a dose of real-world wisdom from someone who’s walked the long road to success—this episode is for you. Find Julian Rivera here. Take the Financial Health Assessment at realestatesuccesspod.com Get in touch with PeaceLink: Website: PeaceLink Financial Planning Instagram: @peacelinkfp

    56 min

About

Welcome to the Real Estate Success Podcast, hosted by Leland Gross of PeaceLink Financial Planning. Here we unlock the secrets to thriving in the competitive world of real estate. If you are a REALTOR®, agent, or aspiring real estate entrepreneur, this podcast is your go-to resource for actionable insights and inspiration. Join us as we interview industry-leading realtors who share their journeys, strategies, and lessons learned on the path to success. Additionally, we dive deep into the financial keys to building and sustaining a profitable real estate business. From scaling your operations to mastering your finances, we cover the tools and techniques you need to excel. Subscribe now to level up your real estate career and join a community of ambitious professionals striving for success. Let's make your real estate dreams a reality!