THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE

How many people actually understand how their financial advisor gets paid? In this episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski and Wealth Advisor Kevin Rex are here to break it down. Tune in if you're interested in… Understanding the different ways financial advisors charge for their services Learning how to spot hidden costs and potential conflicts of interest Hearing the history be...

In this episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, Chris Galeski and Meghan Pinchuk discuss what the growing national debt means for investors and the economy at large. Tune in if you're interested in the following: • Understanding why the U.S. national debt is a growing concern—and what it means for your money • How inflation, interest rates, and political inaction are shaping our economic future • W...

Equity compensation can be one of the most powerful tools for building wealth — but it’s also one of the most misunderstood. In this episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE , Chris and Mike discuss the ins and outs of equity-based pay, from stock options and RSUs to employee stock purchase plans. Whether you’re negotiating a new offer or trying to make sense of what’s already in your compensation package...

In our modern world of noise, trends, exaggerated stories, and "expert" online investment advice, it's wise to be at least a little skeptical. On this episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE , Chris sits down with Morton Wealth CEO Jeff Sarti to unpack the 10 core investment principles in his latest newsletter, The Healthy Skeptic. Tune in if you're interested in the following: Why he...

Last week, House Republicans advanced a multitrillion-dollar tax and spending bill that could affect millions of American households. With the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act set to expire at the end of the year, this bill aims to make several key provisions permanent. Join Chris Galeski and Beau Wirick as they unpack what’s in the bill, who it benefits, and what it means for the broader economy.  Note...

In celebration of the women of Morton – both team members and clients – we welcome you to listen to this episode where we explore the role women play in the financial services industry and the growth of female investors. According to recent studies, women are taking more leadership roles in investment decisions, which has progressed the way advisory firms deliver advice and services. Join Patrice...

Ever wonder how our Chief Investment Officer, Meghan Pinchuk, decides which investments are worth it and which are overhyped? Join Chris and Meghan on this week's episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE as they discuss what makes an idea worth exploring, why due diligence is key, if AI is an overhyped investment, and alternative investments. Tune in if you’re interested in the following: • Preservin...

This episode is relevant to you if... • You purchased long-term care insurance years ago and are now receiving notices about major premium increases. • You help your parents/grandparents manage healthcare and financial decisions, especially around long-term care. • You are a single person who wants to ensure you have a plan in place for long-term care without burdening family members. • You are a...

On this week's episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, Financial Planning Advisor Brittany Yudkowsky joins Chris to talk about RMD planning. • Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) must start by age 73. • Strategies like Roth conversions can be used before reaching RMD age to reduce future taxable distributions. • After age 70½, individuals can donate up to $108,000 (2025 limit) directly from their...

On this week's episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, Wealth Advisor Mike Rudow joins Chris to discuss the Fed's decision to keep rates high. Here are some key takeaways: Trump recently criticized the Fed for keeping rates high and hinted at wanting to replace Powell. Inflation has been stubbornly high, making it risky for the Fed to cut rates prematurely. Chris says the Fed is in a difficult...

On this week's THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE episode, CPA Chris Passmore joins Chris Galeski to discuss moving states to save on taxes. Does it always make sense? Here are some key takeaways from their conversation: Headlines about high California taxes can be misleading—actual savings vary widely based on income and lifestyle. States like Texas may have no income tax, but property tax rates can reac...

On this week's episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, Chris and Kevin discuss a book they recently enjoyed, Die with Zero by Bill Perkins. Are most of us over-saving and under-living? Here are some key takeaways from their conversation: Bill Perkins argues that most people die with too much money. He says wealth should be used to create meaningful experiences while we're healthy enough to enj...

On today's special episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, Jeff and Meghan address the recent volatility in the stock market and how Morton Wealth protects clients' portfolios amidst uncertainty. This episode was filmed on the morning of April 4th.  Here are some key takeaways from their conversation: Meghan and Jeff emphasize the importance of preparing in advance for market uncertainty. Rath...

On this week's episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski and COO & CMO Stacey McKinnon discuss their five best travel hacks. Here are some key takeaways from their conversation: FLIGHTS:  Once you have an idea of your vacation dates, try using the date finder on airline websites or Google Flights to see which specific days are the cheapest to fly.  Chris says opening a new cred...

On this week's episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski and Wealth Advisor Patrice Bening discuss buying vs. leasing cars. Which is better? Here are some key takeaways from their conversation: While leasing typically offers lower monthly payments, it can become an ongoing expense with no ownership benefit.  Leases usually have mileage restrictions, and exceeding them results in co...

On this week's episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski and his wife Briana discuss the importance of having intentional conversations about money with your partner and how to do so.  Here are some key takeaways from their conversation: On average, couples argue about money 58 times per year. Having open, productive conversations about money can improve a couple's understandi...

On this week's episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski and Wealth Advisor Beau Wirick discuss tariffs, their effect on the market, and how to prepare for the future as a consumer/investor.  Chris notes that we filmed this episode on the morning of March 10th in case anything changes by the time this is released.  At the time of filming, the S&P 500 was down 8%. Markets typica...

On this week's episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski and Scott Gilmore, CEO of Ascend Tax and Business Advisors, discuss upcoming tax law changes and how to maximize your tax benefits in 2025. Here are some key takeaways from their conversation: Due to the January fires in LA, tax filing and payment deadlines have been extended to October 15th for individuals and businesses res...

On this week's episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski welcomes CEO Jeff Sarti to discuss overpriced U.S. stock valuations and whether investors should consider international stocks. Here are some key takeaways from their conversation: With the recent outperformance of U.S. stocks as compared to international stocks, many investors are questioning whether they should ditch intern...

This week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE features a special session recorded live from Morton Wealth’s 2024 Investor Symposium. Executive Vice President Eric Selter invites Carmine Cicalese, Senior Partner at Digital Privacy & Protection, LLC, to discuss protecting oneself from cybersecurity threats. Here are some key takeaways from their conversation: More than half of U.S. citizens have...

On this week's episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, we learn about host Chris Galeski's background in professional golf and how he made the switch to wealth management. Chief Operating Officer and Chief Marketing Officer Stacey McKinnon takes over as our temporary host and interviewer. Here are some key takeaways from their discussion: Chris's father worked at Callaway Golf, and his gr...

On this week's episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski welcomes Chief Investment Officer Meghan Pinchuk to discuss interest rates, the hidden forces behind them and their impact on the economy. Here are some key takeaways from their conversation: While many perceive current interest rates as extreme, they are in line with long-term historical averages. Despite Fed rate cuts in 20...

On this week's episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE , host Chris Galeski invites Nik Bhatia, professor at USC, author of Layered Money and host of The Bitcoin Layer podcast to discuss Bitcoin's evolution and role in society and finance.  Here are some key takeaways from their conversation: Bitcoin was created as a response to the continuous expansion of the credit system and as a new form of...

This week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE features a special session recorded live from Morton Wealth’s 2024 Investor Symposium. Our Chief Investment Officer Meghan Pinchuk welcomes our fund managers, Rich Gammill of Proterra, John Ahn with WhiteHawk, and Himani Bhalla with Symbiotic to discuss how they find investments with higher yields and lower relative risk.  Here are some key takeaways fr...

On this week's episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski and Chief Operating Officer & Chief Marketing Officer Stacey McKinnon share advice for those affected by the Los Angeles fires and tips for preparing for future emergencies. Here are some key takeaways from their conversation: The Morton team is available for anyone in the community that needs advice or support during thi...