Hosted by Wealth Advisor Chris Galeski, The Financial Commute is a weekly podcast that gives the rundown on what's going on in the current market, how it affects you, and what you can do about it – all designed to fit into your commute. Each week Chris welcomes an expert guest, including Morton Wealth advisors, fund managers, and investment analysts, to break down complex financial topics. Our goal for this podcast is to provide you with the tools to help you navigate this challenging enviro ...
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Real Estate FAQ: Investing in a Challenging Market
19:09
19:09
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
19:09
On this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski welcomes Chief Investment Officer Meghan Pinchuk to discuss the current real estate environment and investment opportunities. Here are some key takeaways from their conversation: - There is a noticeable drop in real estate transaction volume due to high interest rates and sellers h…
…
continue reading
On this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, Wealth Advisor Priscilla Brehm joins host Chris Galeski to discuss ways to build financial confidence. Here are some key takeaways from their conversation: - Access to too much information does not necessarily lead to true knowledge or confidence, highlighting the importance of one’s mindset towards …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
The Stock Market Selloff: Morton's Perspective
12:06
12:06
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
12:06
On this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski welcomes Managing Director of Investments Sasan Faiz to discuss the global stock market selloff. Here are some key takeaways from their conversation: - Tech stocks’ valuations were high due to AI excitement and hype, but recent corrections highlight the importance of true diversifi…
…
continue reading
On this episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski welcomes COO & CMO Stacey McKinnon to discuss retirement planning. How much do people really need to retire comfortably? Here are some key takeaways from their conversation: - Over 55% of Americans feel behind in retirement planning. - It is crucial to create a retirement plan custom to y…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Does Dollar Cost Averaging Work When Investing?
15:05
15:05
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
15:05
On this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski welcomes Wealth Advisor Patrice Bening to discuss dollar cost averaging, an investment strategy where investments are bought over time. Purchases occur regularly regardless of the asset’s price. Here are some key takeaways from their conversation: - Patrice shares her first experie…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Behind the Scenes: How Morton Manages Investment Portfolios
17:05
17:05
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
17:05
On this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski welcomes Portfolio Management Analyst Hunter Daniel to discuss Morton’s approach to portfolio management. Here are some key takeaways from their conversation: - For clients bringing cash to invest rather than an existing portfolio, Hunter and his team will use dollar cost averaging…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Why Valuations Matter When Investing in Stocks
15:31
15:31
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
15:31
On this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski welcomes Jeff Sarti, CEO of Morton Wealth to discuss market conditions and valuations. Here are some key takeaways from their conversation: - Jeff highlights the importance of setting realistic expectations for stock returns, noting that the past decade’s 10-12% returns may not con…
…
continue reading
On this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski welcomes Wealth Planner & Estate Attorney Brian Standing to discuss advanced estate tax planning strategies. Here are some key takeaways from their conversation: - Estate tax laws are set to sunset in the next year and a half, potentially reducing the exemption amount from over $13…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Best Cybersecurity Practices to Guard Your Finances
12:52
12:52
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
12:52
On this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski invites Chief Compliance Officer Menachem Striks to discuss cybersecurity measures you should take to protect yourself and your money. Here are some key takeaways from their conversation: - Menachem advises listeners to create complex, unique passwords (15 to 20 characters) for the…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
What's Next for Interest Rates and Monetary Policy
13:44
13:44
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
13:44
On this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski welcomes Managing Director of Investments Sasan Faiz to discuss inflation, interest rates, and monetary policy. Here are some key takeaways from their conversation: - Some people think that when inflation comes down, prices should decrease. That would be “deflation,” which is a con…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Buffett's Bet: Exploring International Investments & Japan
13:15
13:15
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
13:15
On this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski welcomes Wealth Advisor Jon Wingent to discuss opportunities in international investing. Here are some key takeaways from their conversation: - Most investors tend to have a home country bias, allocating most of their investments toward domestic stocks and companies. - Most investo…
…
continue reading
On this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski welcomes Wealth Advisor Jenn Caruso to discuss recent financial headlines. Here are some key takeaways from their conversation: - The Dow Jones and NASDAQ have reached new highs; however, clients and consumers feel nervous. - Clients often react emotionally to investment performanc…
…
continue reading
On this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski invites Wealth Advisor Patrice Bening to discuss planning for your child’s education with 529 plans, state-specific rules, and how to maximize benefits. Here are some key takeaways from their conversation: - In California, 529 plan funds that are used for kindergarten through 12th …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
The Risk of Taking Social Security Too Early
12:20
12:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
12:20
On this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski invites Financial Planning Manager Brittany Yudkowsky to discuss Social Security, acknowledging its relevance due to heightened public interest during an election year. Here are some key takeaways from their conversation: - Many Americans fear Social Security may not be available i…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Why Warren Buffett Embraced Taxes By Selling Apple
14:07
14:07
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
14:07
On this episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski welcomes Jeff Sarti, CEO of Morton Wealth, to discuss Warren Buffett’s sale of Apple shares. Here are some key takeaways from this conversation: - Warren Buffett recently sold about 100 million shares of Apple, significantly reducing Berkshire Hathaway’s holdings from $174 billion to $135…
…
continue reading
In this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski welcomes Mikey Taylor, President of Commune Capital, to discuss California real estate. Here are some key takeaways from their conversation: - Mikey discusses the difficulties of real estate development in California due to heavy regulation and entitlement challenges but points out…
…
continue reading
On this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski invites Wealth Advisor Beau Wirick to discuss the potential dangers of following generic financial advice on the Internet. Here are some key takeaways from their conversation: - Beau stresses that financial advice online cannot be personalized the way a financial advisor can tailor…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
How to Manage Risk Amid Geopolitical Unrest & Inflation
12:49
12:49
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
12:49
On this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski invites Chief Investment Officer Meghan Pinchuk to discuss geopolitical tensions and how investors can protect their portfolios amid market uncertainty. Here are some key takeaways from their conversation: - The global environment has become increasingly complex with the geopolitic…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Pitfalls of Selling a Business Without a Plan
18:46
18:46
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
18:46
On this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski welcomes Wealth Advisor Mike Rudow to discuss his article, "Pitfalls of Selling a Business Without a Plan." Here are some key takeaways from their conversation: - Selling a business without a structured plan can lead to serious financial and personal repercussions. - It is extremel…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Gold Hitting All Time Highs: Should You Invest?
11:54
11:54
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
11:54
On this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski welcomes Wealth Advisor Patrice Bening to discuss current market issues and the unique value of gold. Some topics they highlighted… - Amid conflicting market signals, gold remains a store of long-term value. Even after a century, a gold bar is still worth the price of the average A…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Homeowner’s Insurance: Are You Covered From Fire and Flood Risks?
19:12
19:12
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
19:12
On this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski welcomes Justin Pizzola, co-CEO of Greyhawk Insurance, to discuss homeowner’s insurance coverage. Here are the key takeaways covered in their conversation - Flood insurance can be very complex, as internal water damage is generally covered but external water intrusion is not typica…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
How Will Realtor Fee Changes Impact Home Buyers and Sellers?
12:54
12:54
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
12:54
On this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski and Wealth Advisor Beau Wirick discuss the recent policy changes around realtor commissions due to the National Association of Realtors’ settlement and how they may affect the market. · Three key changes are highlighted: Listing agents are now banned from offering co-fee sharing wi…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Estate Tax Changes: Will They Affect You?
27:01
27:01
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
27:01
On this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski welcomes Estate Planning Attorney Brian Standing to discuss upcoming estate tax law changes and how they may affect you. - The estate tax exemption as of today is $13.6 million per individual, meaning estates valued over this amount are subject to estate tax. This amount is expecte…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
March Economic Highs & Lows: Should Investors Worry?
12:29
12:29
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
12:29
On this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski invites Chief Investment Officer Meghan Pinchuk to discuss recent headlines and the overall economic landscape. They highlight topics like: -Recent banking sector issues, with a focus on New York Community Bank’s struggles -The Federal Reserve’s potential interest rate cuts -Market…
…
continue reading
On this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski invites Wealth Advisor Patrice Bening to discuss eight tax-saving strategies. 1. Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are highlighted as a triple benefit tax-saving strategy, allowing pre-tax contributions, tax-free growth for medical expenses, and tax-free withdrawals for those expenses…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Tech Unicorns: Will Companies Like NVIDIA Last?
14:20
14:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
14:20
On this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski invites Wealth Advisor Joe Seetoo to discuss the recent rise in NVIDIA's stock price, including topics like: - how NVIDIA's groundbreaking work in AI has contributed to their stock valuation - competition from AMD, Intel, and potential threats from startups and cloud providers - wh…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Brokerage vs. RIA: Is There Really a Difference?
18:39
18:39
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
18:39
In this episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski invites Priscilla Brehm to discuss the differences between brokerage firms and RIAs (Registered Investment Advisors). Priscilla and Chris encourage listeners to understand how compensation works when choosing between an RIA and brokerage firms, as brokerages often compensate their advisor…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Highs & Hazards: Market Surges and Banking Risks
14:30
14:30
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
14:30
On this episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski invites Wealth Advisor Patrice Bening to examine the stock market, the economy’s resilience, and last year’s banking crisis that may potentially resurface. They discuss the exposure of small and mid-sized banks to commercial real estate loans. With interest rates on the rise, these banks …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
What a Resilient Investment Portfolio Means to Us
17:30
17:30
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
17:30
On this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski invites CEO Jeff Sarti to discuss building a resilient investment portfolio and what “resilience” means. Jeff and Chris define resilience as an investment’s capability to withstand a variety of unforeseen scenarios without significant loss. Although uncertainty is inevitable, build…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Different Ways to Access Real Estate: REITs vs. Private Funds
18:36
18:36
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
18:36
On this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski invites Wealth Advisor Kevin Rex to discuss different methods of investing in real estate. Although being a landlord is a popular way to invest in real estate, Kevin says it requires consistent effort to resolve maintenance issues and handle difficult tenants. If an investor is int…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Mastering the Balance: Liquidity vs. Illiquidity
16:11
16:11
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
16:11
On this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE¸ host Chris Galeski welcomes COO and Wealth Advisor Stacey McKinnon to discuss liquidity. Illiquidity can be nerve-wracking due to the emotional bond people have with their money and the comfort that comes from having easy access to it. Stacey discusses conversations she has with clients about balanci…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Bitcoin ETFs: What We Think You Should Know
11:53
11:53
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
11:53
On this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski invites Chief Investment Officer Meghan Pinchuk to discuss Bitcoin ETFs that have recently been approved by the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission). They discuss Bitcoin’s similarities to gold, particularly its role as a potential store of value as opposed to fiat currencies, …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Generating Income By Lending on Real Estate
21:51
21:51
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
21:51
On this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, Wealth Advisor Joe Seetoo discusses Pender Capital’s investment strategy with CEO Cory Johnson at Morton’s 2023 Investor Symposium. Pender is a commercial real estate debt lender focusing on the lower middle market in secondary and tertiary markets, especially in Middle America. Cory talks about how …
…
continue reading
Happy New Year! On today’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski invites Chief Investment Officer Meghan Pinchuk to reflect on 2023 and discuss what this new year may bring. Due to the recent moderation in the inflation rate, markets responded positively, and the Fed announced they will cut interest rates in 2024. Meghan reminds list…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Bond Alternative: A Smarter Way to Lend to Corporate America
21:29
21:29
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
21:29
On this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, Wealth Advisor Bruce Tyson discusses Cliffwater’s investment strategy with Head of Capital Markets Fran Beyers. Cliffwater’s goal is to provide solid compounding returns in even tumultuous environments. Fran explains how direct lending may offer predictability, lower interest rate risk, and yield pre…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Generating Attractive Returns Through Creative Private Lending
21:37
21:37
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
21:37
On today’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski welcomes Managing Director at Keystone National Group John Earl to our 2023 Investor Symposium stage. They discuss Keystone and their approach to lending and investments. Keystone is a private credit platform with a focus on asset value. They provide lending and leasing services to com…
…
continue reading
On today’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, Managing Director of Investments Sasan Faiz and Wealth Advisor Mike Rudow take the stage at our 2023 Investor Symposium to discuss artificial intelligence and its potential. Although the adoption of AI has been relatively effortless for individuals, it may not be so on a larger enterprise scale. This is …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Lending to Out-of-Favor Companies with Substantial Assets
21:57
21:57
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
21:57
On this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski welcomes Bob Louzan, Managing Partner at WhiteHawk Capital Partners to the 2023 Investor Symposium stage. WhiteHawk specializes in lending to companies that cannot secure loans from traditional banks or capital providers. Because of this structure, WhiteHawk tends to perform well d…
…
continue reading
This week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE features a conversation on Bitcoin from Morton Wealth’s 2023 Investor Symposium led by host Chris Galeski, Wealth Planner Brian Standing and founder of The Bitcoin Layer Nik Bhatia. Nik is also a CFA® charterholder and teaches finance and business economics at USC. Nik explains that Bitcoin is both a sof…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Across the Pond: Navigating the Expat Financial Journey
19:27
19:27
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
19:27
In this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski and Wealth Advisor Jon Wingent discuss international living and the financial uncertainties often faced by expats. Many expats may have questions about whether their contributions in another country will count towards their U.S. Social Security benefits. The U.S. has Social Securit…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Top Wealth Hacks & Tax Strategies in 2023
18:00
18:00
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
18:00
In this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski welcomes Wealth Advisor Kevin Rex to discuss wealth hacks and tax planning strategies. Some strategies they explore are Donor Advised Funds and Qualified Charitable Distributions. These methods can help individuals save on taxes while supporting philanthropic causes. Health Savings…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Reviewing a Century of Investment Trends: Small vs. Large Companies
18:52
18:52
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
18:52
In this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski welcomes Wealth Advisor Bruce Tyson to discuss how the market has performed this past year, including bank failures, debt issues, government shutdowns, inflation, and interest rates. They dissect the common belief that the average annual return of the stock market over the long-ter…
…
continue reading
In this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski and Wealth Advisor Mike Rudow discuss artificial intelligence and its potential impact on the financial industry/other fields. Mike emphasizes that AI is a large language model with access to data, which can be flawed due to inherent biases. Because it still has a long way to go in…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Can We Thrive Amidst Uncertainty: War, Rising Rates, and Political Chaos
17:16
17:16
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
17:16
In today’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski invites Managing Director of Investments Sasan Faiz to discuss the current economic landscape. The global economy is uncertain due to the war happening in the Middle East, rising interest rates driven by the Fed’s efforts to lower inflation, and the dysfunction in the U.S. Congress rel…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Embracing Uncertainty: Insights from the Investor Symposium
18:58
18:58
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
18:58
On this episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski invites CEO Jeff Sarti to recap the Investor Symposium and looks ahead to Morton’s future. Firstly, Jeff and Chris address the Israel-Hamas war and its potential impact on global markets. Jeff emphasizes the importance of diversification in building resilient portfolios to weather unfores…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Navigating Financial Turbulence & Inflation with Gold
12:41
12:41
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
12:41
In this episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski invites Managing Director of Investment Sasan Faiz to discuss Q3 and how investors can try to protect themselves in unpredictable market conditions. Q3 saw a struggling market with the S&P 500 down 3.2% and MSCI EAFE down 4%. Bonds have also faced challenges as they were down 3.2% for the…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Celebrating a Year of Financial Commute Insights: Join Us at the Investor Symposium
14:36
14:36
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
14:36
On today’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski invites Wealth Advisor Mike Rudow, his very first guest, to celebrate the podcast’s one year anniversary. Chris reflects on this accomplishment and feels grateful that he and his guests have been able to deliver valuable financial knowledge to listeners for a year. Chris and Mike also …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
From Mortgages to Market Trends: A Deep Dive Into Real Estate
17:52
17:52
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
17:52
On today’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski invites Brian Farwell, Branch Manager at CrossCountry Mortgage, to discuss residential real estate and interest rates. The single-family home market remains resilient due to limited supply and high demand. It’s an expensive market for buyers, but Brian says it may be best to buy now ra…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Investing with Patience: Real Estate in a Changing Market
17:18
17:18
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
17:18
On today’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski invites Managing Director at KCB Real Estate Megan Pautler-Gutnikov to discuss KCB Real Estate and their investment strategies. KCB is a buy-and-hold control investor in a wide variety of income-producing property types. We have felt confident in our partnership with KCB because of the…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
The Modern Real Estate Dilemma: Gifting or Loaning to the Next Generation
20:56
20:56
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
20:56
On this episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski welcomes Wealth Planner Brian Standing. They discuss potential complications that may arise when a parent or grandparent helps their child buy real estate. Firstly, it is critical to decide if the financial assistance offered is considered a gift or a loan. Gifts may be subject to gift ta…
…
continue reading