Want to teach your child about investing? It can be difficult to know where to start and even how to answer their questions. Hosts Michael MacKelvie and Valerie Escobar share their advice for parents looking to teach their child or teen about investing including compounding interest, investment accounts, retirement plans and more…

It's not just about the numbers. There is value beyond the data that a wealth advisor can offer. They work to solve complex challenges and guide people during transitions. Hosts Michael MacKelvie and Valerie Escobar share their perspectives on the field before getting into wealth management and what they've learned since.…

IRAs, Roth IRAs, 401(k)s are among the very basics of building a financial plan, and they apply to just about everybody. On this episode of Your Life Simplified, Valerie Escobar, senior wealth advisor, is joined by Jodi Robinson, vice president of tax services. They discuss the differences between Roth IRAs and Roth 401(k)s, required minimum distri…

No one likes planning their mortality, but this is not time made but time spent. The challenges and financial strain without proper planning can, unfortunately, leave a stain on someone’s legacy. On this episode of Your Life Simplified, Michael MacKelvie, wealth advisor, is joined by Michelle Cross, senior wealth advisor. They discuss ways to avoid…

What is it that people get wrong about retirement? On this episode of Your Life Simplified, Michael MacKelvie, wealth advisor, is joined by guest, Keith Lawrence, retired P&G executive & co-author of "Your Retirement Quest". They discuss ways to be happy and healthy during one of the largest transitions in your life.…

Having a new child can bring immense amounts of joy, but it can also bring stress, especially when it comes to being financially prepared. This week, Valerie Escobar, senior wealth advisor, is joined by Whitney Reagan, wealth advisor. They’ll discuss aspects like the Family Medical Leave Act, short-term disability and preparing your team for your l…

The one constant in life is change, and the markets are no exception to this, which leads to a familiar question for many investors. When should you rebalance your portfolio, if at all? On this episode of Your Life Simplified, Michael MacKelvie, wealth advisor, is joined by Brad Rollins, vice president of investments. They discuss what rebalancing …

Money is a topic of conversation in many movies. The question is the legitimacy of some of these movies and how they portray the financial industry. On this episode of Your Life Simplified, Valerie Escobar, senior wealth advisor, and Michael MacKelvie, wealth advisor, will react to hits, like The Big Short and The Wolf of Wall Street, and share the…

In our last episode, we started our discussion on Incentive Stock Options (ISOs). Now, we’ll continue that discussion and dive deeper into Alternative Minimum Tax (ATM). Steve Moyer, vice president of executive compensation & corporate offerings, joins our host, Valerie Escobar, senior wealth advisor, to share more about the tax implications and st…

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of stock-based compensation, shedding light on how Incentive Stock Options (ISOs) work and the strategies that can help you maximize their benefits. Steve Moyer, vice president of executive compensation & corporate offerings, joins our host, Valerie Escobar, senior wealth advisor, to simplify the complex…

As we near the end of the year, what is it that you should be doing to minimize taxes and make sure that you've got your financial world organized? Valerie Escobar, senior wealth advisor, and Michael MacKelvie, wealth advisor, share 6 tax and wealth planning strategies you should consider before the year wraps up.…

As an executive, you probably have some time of restricted stock or security in your compensation. But what is right for you and your portfolio? Steve Moyer, vice president of executive compensation & corporate offerings, joins our host, Valerie Escobar, senior wealth advisor, to sort through the noise of executive compensation and explain RSUs, re…

In today's digital age, cybersecurity has become more important than ever. With cybercrime on the rise, it's crucial to know how to protect yourself and your data from online threats. On this episode of Your Life Simplified, Michael MacKelvie, wealth advisor, sits down with Chris Cook, senior vice president of information security, to provide you w…

On this episode of Your Life Simplified, Michael MacKelvie, wealth advisor, is joined by special guest, Brett Kunshek, head of options and structured notes. They break down what structured notes and options are and dive into their complexities, different types of structured notes and which investors these may be right for. They’ll also cover why th…

With flexibility and connectivity in today’s world, many are excited by the idea of moving abroad and traveling; however, with that comes complications that you may not have considered. On this episode of Your Life Simplified, Valerie Escobar, senior wealth advisor, is joined by Raoul Rodriguez, senior wealth advisor. Here are 3 things you need to …

We may not be at the end of the year yet, but now is the time to start end-of-year tax planning. Valerie Escobar, senior wealth advisor, and Michael MacKelvie, wealth advisor, share ways to minimize the amount of taxes you’ll pay for 2023. They’ll cover tax planning strategies like capital gains, tax loss harvesting and Roth conversions to help lim…

On this episode of Your Life Simplified, Valerie Escobar, senior wealth advisor, and Jake Kern, managing director and senior wealth advisor, discuss the powerful strategy of Intentionally Defective Grantor Trusts (IDGTs) and how they can benefit you. An IDGT is a trust that is intentionally drafted to be "defective" for income tax purposes. This al…

For many, they've become wealthy because of their focus on saving. They've spent their entire lives being disciplined and saving money. Then, there comes a time when they need to spend it, and that can be a difficult transition. On this episode of Your Life Simplified, Valerie Escobar, senior wealth advisor, is joined by Abby Foster, associate weal…

While we can’t look into the future, each year, we feature a webinar that peers into a crystal ball and shares what we expect to see from the markets during the second half of the year. On this episode of Your Life Simplified, Valerie Escobar, senior wealth advisor, is joined by Jeff Krumpelman, chief investment strategies and head of equities. Jef…

With larger estates, often come more complicated estate plans. Ben Voelker, director of wealth strategy, is back on this episode of Your Life Simplified to discuss more advanced estate planning techniques and strategies to avoid high estate taxes.By Mariner Wealth Advisors

When we discuss estate planning, it’s a way to communicate our values and decide how we want our legacy to look. When you have a family member with special needs, this is especially important so that they can be taken care of the way that you would want. On this episode of Your Life Simplified, Valerie Escobar, senior wealth advisor, is joined by K…

Parents and Teens: Today we have creative hacks that could save you tens of thousands of dollars, regardless of if you qualify for financial aid. On this episode of Your Life Simplified, Valerie Escobar, senior wealth advisor, and Michael MacKelvie, wealth advisor, share their advice for young adults heading to college and how utilizing these strat…

The math behind owning a second home: does it make sense or should you just enjoy a vacation in your favorite destination? On this episode of Your Life Simplified, Valerie Escobar, senior wealth advisor, and Michael MacKelvie, wealth advisor, discuss the pros and cons of buying a second home or if it makes more sense to take a vacation instead.…

On this episode of Your Life Simplified, Valerie Escobar, senior wealth advisor, and Michael MacKelvie, wealth advisor, break down annuities. They cover the different types, the risk and benefits associated with them and what to ask the insurance company before getting an annuity.By Mariner Wealth Advisors

While estate planning can be overwhelming for a lot of families, having a thorough estate plan in place can make a significant impact on how your wealth is transferred and helps ensure that your wishes are followed. Ben Voelker, director of wealth strategy, joins this episode of Your Life Simplified to share what you should consider when creating y…

Being a trustee is something that requires knowledge, effort and liability, so when you’re creating your estate plan, it’s important to consider your options and who will make the best choices for you. Cindy Bozik, national managing director of trust services, joins this episode of Your Life Simplified to share her advice for picking the right trus…

What is a money market? What is the difference between a money market and a money market fund? They are at their highest demand since 2008, but there’s still confusion. On this episode of Your Life Simplified, Valerie Escobar, senior wealth advisor, and Michael MacKelvie, wealth advisor, compare the different types and what investors should know, i…

With recent failures in the banking industry, many investors are worried about the safety of their accounts. Valerie Escobar, senior wealth advisor, and Michael MacKelvie, wealth advisor, sit down to break down FDIC and SIPC, what that means for you and how to ensure your deposits are protected.By Mariner Wealth Advisors

Starting early can make a significant impact on retirement savings, but how can you help teach your teen to start building wealth? Valerie Escobar, senior wealth advisor, and Michael MacKelvie, wealth advisor, share tips and talking points for talking to your teen about finances and being financially responsible.…

As college students, finding and accepting an internship can be a daunting task. Tracy Hutton, senior manager of recruiting, joins this episode of Your Life Simplified to share tips for getting an internship in financial planning, what you should expect once you’ve started the internship and how to make sure the company and career path are right fo…

When looking at insurance, you’re likely faced with two options—term or permanent insurance. Which one makes more sense for you and your situation? This week, Jerry Clark, senior consultant, insurance solutions, joins Michael MacKelvie, wealth advisor, to help break down term versus permanent insurance and how to figure out which may be right for y…

With many insurance options available, it can be overwhelming and complicated to decide what is the right choice for you. This week, Jerry Clark, senior consultant, insurance solutions, joins Michael MacKelvie, wealth advisor, to help break down different types of life insurance. They’ll discuss the pros and cons of whole life insurance, indexed un…

Blockchain technology has been gaining a lot of attention in recent years for its potential to transform industries such as finance, supply chain, healthcare, and more. Ric Edelman, founder of DACFP, joins this episode of Your Life Simplified where we explore the various aspects of blockchain technology, including how it works and how to buy blockc…

Medicare is another cost to consider during retirement. How do you get the most value out of your Medicare package? On this episode of Your Life Simplified, Michael MacKelvie, wealth advisor, is joined by Tim Mickelson, Medicare specialist. They’ll discuss the costs associated with each part and working with an insurance agent. They’ll also cover t…

There can be a lot to unpack when considering the different Medicare coverage components and understanding what may be right for you. On this episode of Your Life Simplified, Michael MacKelvie, wealth advisor, is joined by Tim Mickelson, Medicare specialist. They’ll discuss the basics of Medicare, including Part A, B, C and D, costs, signing up for…

Considering rising interest rates and inflation, should you invest in bonds? While bonds are a common investment, they can be complex. Michael MacKelvie, wealth advisor, is joined by Carolyn Moriarty, wealth advisor, to break down bonds, their structure, how they work within your portfolio and if you should consider investing in bonds…

50% of adults will need long-term care at some point in their life, and this can have major impacts on your emotions and financial plan. Dr. Christina Lynn, practice management consultant, joins this episode of Your Life Simplified to share how to discuss aging and long-term care with your parents, what emotions this may bring, how much to plan for…

Before saying, “I do,” it can be helpful to discuss finances with your fiancé and have a prenuptial agreement in place. On this episode, Valerie Escobar, senior wealth advisor, hosts, Julia Rodgers, CEO and Co-Founder of HelloPrenup, who shares ways you can approach this topic with your partner, how to have that conversation and ways that you can h…

Oftentimes, getting a prenuptial agreement may feel unromantic, timely and expensive. But not having a prenup can end up causing more strife and costing more in the long run. On this episode of Your Life Simplified, Valerie Escobar, senior wealth advisor, and hosts guest, Julia Rodgers, CEO and Co-Founder of HelloPrenup. They discuss what is a pren…

With the passage of the SECURE Act & SECURE 2.0 Act, Stretch IRAs are no longer an option. So, how should investors with an IRA manage this and what should beneficiaries do with their inherited IRA? Valerie Escobar, senior wealth advisor, and Michael MacKelvie, wealth advisor, share strategies investors may consider with their IRAs.…

In 2022, Congress passed SECURE 2.0 Act, and this new legislation has significant changes to the ways you save for retirement. On this episode of Your Life Simplified, Valerie Escobar, senior wealth advisor, and Michael MacKelvie, wealth advisor, detail important changes in SECURE 2.0 Act that may affect your retirement savings. They’ll discuss req…

In celebration of Your Life Simplified’s 100th episode, Valerie Escobar, senior wealth advisor, and Michael MacKelvie, wealth advisor, look back at the last 100 years in finance and the markets. While history doesn’t provide a perfect roadmap for the future, it can teach us useful lessons about bear markets, industry trends, risk and the economy.…

A Roth IRA is an important component of your retirement portfolio. In this episode of Your Life Simplified, Valerie Escobar, senior wealth advisor, and Michael MacKelvie, wealth advisor, discuss mistakes that can be made when investing in a Roth IRA and how to avoid them. Topics discussed include spousal contributions, Roth 401k options, the 5-year…

On this episode of Your Life Simplified, Valerie Escobar, senior wealth advisor, is joined by special guest, Brett Kunshek, head of options. They break down what an option is and dive into risk mitigation, generating income and return enhancement. They’ll also cover areas of frustration for investors and examples.…

To kick off the new year, Valerie Escobar, senior wealth advisor, and Michael MacKelvie, wealth advisor, share financial goals and new year’s resolutions you may want to set in 2023. From retirement planning to estate planning and gifting, we cover ways to help you achieve your goals.By Mariner Wealth Advisors

With only a few weeks left in the year, make sure you check everything off your financial list. On this episode, Valerie Escobar, senior wealth advisor, and Michael MacKelvie, wealth advisor provide an end of year wealth planning checklist, which includes areas like retirement planning, Required Minimum Distributions and gifting.…

In this week’s episode of Your Life Simplified, Valerie Escobar, senior wealth advisor, and Christina Lynn, practice management consultant, continue their conversation about financial conflicts between spouses. Topics discussed include tips for managing spousal differences as an advisor, suggestions for spouses when talking about financial conflict…

In this week’s episode of Your Life Simplified, Valerie Escobar, senior wealth advisor, and Christina Lynn, practice management consultant, dive into the topic of financial challenges between spouses including divorce, overspending and how wealth advisors and clients can communicate during this difficult time.…

In preparation for Thanksgiving, Valerie Escobar, senior wealth advisor, and Michael MacKelvie, wealth advisor, share what they are grateful for. Each discusses one thing in the financial industry and one personal thing they are cherishing this season. Listen to hear more about their gratitude for compounding interest, investments and financial pla…

In this week’s episode of Your Life Simplified, Mike MacKelvie wealth advisor, and special guest Kevin Ahern, Human Resources Manager, discuss Health Savings Accounts and the 5 benefits of having one.By Mariner Wealth Advisors