Your Life Simplified: A Financial & Wealth Management Podcast

In this episode of Your Life Simplified, Mike Mackelvie, wealth advisor, and Valerie Escobar, senior wealth advisor, discuss bond alternatives and the pros and cons of bonds. Valerie and Michael talk about the basics of bonds, bond alternatives that you can invest in, rates of return and how impactful bonds can be in the market.

In this episode of Your Life Simplified, Mike MacKelvie, wealth advisor, and Valerie Escobar, senior wealth advisor, discuss volatility in the stock market and strategies to embrace the up and down rollercoaster that the stock market can be. Valerie and Michael talk about the history of markets, rates of return and impactful days in the market.

In part 2 of Your Life Simplified's real estate series, Mike MacKelvie, wealth advisor, and Valerie Escobar, senior wealth advisor, discuss how REITs, or real estate investment trust, and ETFs, or exchange trades funds, have performed in high interest rate environments and the advantages of investing in real estate assets.

Are you looking to invest in real estate? In this week's episode of Your Life Simplified, Mike MacKelvie, wealth advisor, and Valerie Escobar, senior wealth advisor, talk about the things you should take into consideration before investing in real estate. The topics discussed include interest rates, return on investment and the advantages and disadvantages of investing in real estate.

Often times, we only look at the short-term cost of owning a pet such as adoption fees, toys, food and vaccinations. However, other costs, such as pet insurance, additional vet bills and housing need to be considered before adopting a furry friend. In this week's podcast episode, Valerie Escobar, senior wealth advisor, and Mike MacKelvie, wealth advisor, are joined by very special guest Lucy as th...

How do we get our kids to make better decisions with money? In this week's podcast, Valorie, senior wealth advisor,  and Mike, welath advisor, will be sharing with you tips and insights to help you teach your kids how to become financially literate.

In this week's podcast episode, Valerie Escobar, senior wealth advisor, and Mike MacKelvie, wealth advisor, walk through 5 tax planning strategies and opportunities like Roth conversions, backdoor Roth IRA conversions, asset allocation, tax-loss harvesting and making qualified charitable contributions. They'll also discuss considerations for each of these strategies and why it's important to consu...

Should you or should you not be doing your own investing? In this episode, Valerie and Mike will be covering the 5 most common financial pitfalls of a DIY investor.

When there are so many outside factors affecting our well-being, it can be very beneficial to take a moment and focus on what's happening inside you. In this episode, we invite Briana Struemph to help us understand what meditation is, how we can benefit from practicing and lead us through a simple breathing exercise. 

If you've always wanted to give back to the community where you live and work, but wonder how to get started, learn strategies from Katie Dunn Fitzgerald , principal and senior wealth consultant at Mariner Wealth Advisors, who joined us to talk about how to find an organization to volunteer your time for that's fits your interests, aligns with your values and operates with integrity.

We've all seen the automotive industry headlines lately; chip shortages and used car scarcities, to name a few. In this episode, we invited back John M. Vincent , an automotive consumer advice writer with U.S. News & World Report , to discuss challenges manufacturers face, how to take advantage of the current car market and his thoughts on electric vehicles.

When it comes to multi-generational wealth planning and how prepared children and grandchildren are to receive an inheritance, there are a few key concepts to keep in mind. We invite Chad Hamilton of our practice management team to discuss setting up a goals-based, comprehensive foundation of education. Included in this groundwork discussion are building blocks of debt, cash flow management, inves...

If you or someone you know is just getting started on the financial paths of life, there are many routes to choose and potholes to avoid. We invite a group of our advisors to sit down and share some tips on how to thoughtfully build wealth based on conversations they've had with their clients and experiences in their own lives. From recognizing the difference between good debt and bad debt, to bes...

When looking for ways to improve success within an organization or business, individuals may consider reaching out to a consultant for recommendations. Another avenue for this goal, that employs a more collaborative approach, is leadership coaching. We invite Teresa Carey , CEO  and president of PerformancePointe, to discuss the key differences between consulting and coaching, describes methods sh...

Blockchain, cryptocurrency, Digital Ledger Technology. These terms are becoming commonplace in the news cycle, on social media and even in casual conversation, but digital assets can be a very complex topic. So, we invited Scott Duba, portfolio manager and director of our investments team, to give us an introduction to the realm of digital assets and what to think about when considering investing...

The ongoing pandemic has changed the way we travel and many are changing their approach to transportation, like driving or taking the train. Before you book your next trip, tune in as we invite Erika Richter , with the American society of Travel Advisors to share travel tips like planning ahead and hiring a travel agent who can help you navigate COVID restrictions that vary by state and internatio...

There are currently nine states that have no income tax, which can be an enticing reason to move to one of them – especially for retirees. But are tax advantages on their own a good reason for you to move to Alaska? On this episode, we invited Patrick Kimbrough , managing director of our Dallas, Texas office, to share a more comprehensive view of considerations before packing up for another state.

In the realm of managing finances, there are some key issues that are unique to women. Whether that be considerations around the fact that they statistically live longer than men or why it's important women are empowered to take control of their financial future. Recently, several of our wealth advisors joined together to discuss how women can address these challenges and take control of their fin...

As students are preparing for their final year of high school and where life may take them after that, many turn their eyes toward going to college. Getting accepted into the school of their dreams can be stressful enough, but then you have to think about how – and who – is going to pay for it. We invite Cozy Wittman , of College Inside Track, to share best practices on financing college, includin...

Proper hydration is essential to our overall well-being, especially after being physically active. Whether a professional athlete or a weekend warrior in your local gym, your body needs to rehydrate in order to recover. We invite Anthony Wolfe MS , a senior scientist at Gatorade Sports Science Institute, to share how hydration – whether water or a sports drink – is essential in staying healthy and...

If you own a business, planning for the transfer of ownership is something that you'll eventually need to consider. While giving up that ownership may not be an easy consideration, our guest, Rochelle Clarke , Business Transition specialist and CEO of Succession Strength, offers guidance on things you should be considering and how to make the transfer of your business go more smoothly. In this epi...

Have you ever wanted to ask a professional vintner what, regardless of cost, makes a good wine or what effect the winemaking process has on the overall taste? On this episode, we invite Kelly Trevethan , co-founder of AXR Napa Valley , to talk about his experience and history with wine that goes back to his Italian grandfather who was also a winemaker. Whether your current preference is red, white...

Social Security is something we see taken out of each paycheck, but what does that mean exactly? And, will there be any money left in the Social Security coffer when you're ready to retire? For many, the benefits, and when to take them, can be confusing. On this episode, we invite Joe Hendrix , of Mariner Wealth Advisors, to simplify this topic for us and offer considerations on your personal plan...

Many individuals who invest would like to know how their dollar is being put to work while in the market. Is it supporting a company  who's  values align with their own?  We turned a recent socially responsible investing webinar into our latest Your Life, Simplified podcast. Our host, George Fernandez along with the panel of   Brad Rollins , vice president of investment operations,  Ken Powell , s...

Even before the pandemic, working from home has become a norm in our society. Whether you do your job from a home office full-time, or have a temporary setup during an unexpected shift in your routine, there are impacts to your overall health that you should consider. We invite Samantha Cooper Cauthon , facility manager & physical therapist at Athletico, to join us in a discussion about ways to im...