Did you know that among affluent parents, 67% have never spoken to their adult children about finances? These families are missing the opportunity to foster communication, align values, and prepare the next generation for personal, financial, and professional responsibilities. Executive Vice President Eric Selter joins host Chris Galeski on this week's episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE to discuss the nuances of these conversations and ways to conduct a productive, intentional family meeting. Tune...
Jul 08, 2025•20 min•Season 1Ep. 146
In this episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski and Financial Planning Associate Ian Rennick dig into a shiny subject—gold. Is it a smart investment today? Should you own it in your portfolio, and if so, how much? Tune in if you're interested in: Why central banks around the world are buying record amounts of gold How gold can help protect your portfolio from inflation and market volatility What percentage of your portfolio should be in gold—and where to keep it The historical power...
Jul 01, 2025•17 min•Season 1Ep. 145
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 behind Morton Wealth’s fee-only philosophy and how it’s evolved Exploring when a flat fee might make more s...
Jun 23, 2025•17 min•Season 1Ep. 144
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 • Whether we can “grow” our way out of debt, or if inflation is the path of least resistance • Smart investm...
Jun 17, 2025•16 min•Season 1Ep. 143
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, their conversation will help you optimize your equity. Tune in if you're interested in the followi...
Jun 10, 2025•18 min•Season 1Ep. 142
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 healthy skepticism—not blind optimism or fear—is key to making smart financial decisions. How questioning government data,...
Jun 03, 2025•22 min•Season 1Ep. 141
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: This episode was filmed on May 22nd, 2025. Tune in if you’re interested in the following: • How the...
May 23, 2025•21 min•Season 1Ep. 140
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 Bening and Stacey McKinnon for a powerful and personal conversation about women in wealth on the lat...
May 20, 2025•26 min•Season 1Ep. 139
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: • Preserving and growing your wealth • How we evaluate new opportunities • Diversifying your portfolio beyond stocks...
May 13, 2025•17 min•Season 1Ep. 138
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 financial professional looking to increase your knowledge around long-term care planning and insuran...
May 06, 2025•13 min•Season 1Ep. 137
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 IRA to charity, reducing taxable income. • Making large contributions to a donor-advised fund in high-in...
Apr 29, 2025•13 min
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 position right now as the economy is slowing, tariffs are creating uncertainty, unemployment might be ticking...
Apr 23, 2025•14 min•Season 1Ep. 135
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 reach up to 3%, significantly higher than California’s Prop 13-capped rates. Factors like homeowners insuranc...
Apr 15, 2025•20 min•Season 1Ep. 134
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 enjoy them. Kevin notes that life is made of seasons — in youth, you have time, energy, and health. Optimal plann...
Apr 08, 2025•16 min•Season 1Ep. 133
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. Rather than reacting to volatility, Morton Wealth's portfolios are designed to anticipate it. While many traditiona...
Apr 05, 2025•10 min•Season 1Ep. 132
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 credit card in advance of a big trip can be a great way to get one or two flights covered, especially if the ca...
Apr 01, 2025•23 min•Season 1Ep. 131
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 costly penalties. Buying a car means dealing with depreciation, but owners can build equity and eventually s...
Mar 25, 2025•17 min•Season 1Ep. 130
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 understanding of each other and their financial success. Establishing clear financial responsibilities and potentially del...
Mar 18, 2025•17 min•Season 1Ep. 129
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 typically do not respond well to uncertainty, which Beau says is the only way to describe these policies since th...
Mar 11, 2025•15 min•Season 1Ep. 128
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 residing in Los Angeles County. A Net Operating Loss (NOL) occurs when a taxpayer’s deductible losses exceed...
Mar 04, 2025•23 min•Season 1Ep. 127
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 international stocks altogether. However, U.S. equities are trading at historically high valuations, raising co...
Feb 25, 2025•21 min•Season 1Ep. 126
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 experienced cybercrime, with identity theft occurring every 22 seconds. Fraudsters typically use phi...
Feb 18, 2025•22 min•Season 1Ep. 125
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 grandfather was a golf professional, giving him early exposure to the sport. Chris played at San Diego State, benefit...
Feb 12, 2025•20 min•Season 1Ep. 124
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 2024, long-term rates (like the 10-year Treasury yield) rose, making mortgages and loans more expensive. Th...
Feb 04, 2025•24 min•Season 1Ep. 123
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 decentralized electronic cash. Bitcoin's finite supply (21 million coins) makes it a unique store of value aki...
Jan 28, 2025•30 min•Season 1Ep. 122
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 from their conversation: - WhiteHawk is an asset-based lender focused on underwriting to bankruptcy whi...
Jan 21, 2025•54 min•Season 1Ep. 121
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 this time. If you've lost your home, it is crucial to contact mortgage and insurance companies as soon as po...
Jan 14, 2025•26 min•Season 1Ep. 120
On this week's episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski welcomes Chief Operating Officer and Chief Marketing Officer Stacey McKinnon to discuss how to invest wisely in 2025, especially during uncertain times. Here are some key takeaways: Uncertainty is a constant in investing and is not a reason to stop investing. Stacey and Chris suggest considering the bucket approach. This involves dividing funds into buckets for emergencies, income generation, and long-term growth, aligning inves...
Jan 07, 2025•22 min•Season 1Ep. 119
On this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski welcomes Wealth Advisor Patrice Bening to discuss how to strategize distributions when inheriting IRAs, complexities introduced by Secure Act changes in 2020, and what to know for 2025. Here are some key takeaways from their conversation: - In 2020, Secure Act 2.0 made it so non-spouse beneficiaries must fully deplete inherited retirement accounts (traditional or Roth IRAs) within 10 years, instead of stretching distributions ov...
Dec 30, 2024•19 min•Season 1Ep. 118
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 real estate fund managers, Megan Pautler-Gutnikov of KCB, Todd Williams of Grubb Properties and Shawn Clark of CRG. Each manager focuses on a different niche of real estate investing. They discuss the current real estate environment, future opportunities, and how they structure their deals to protect investors...
Dec 20, 2024•54 min•Season 1Ep. 117
