Your Life, Simplified

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 allows the grantor of the trust to transfer assets to the trust without triggering gift or estate taxes. The grantor also pays the income tax on the trust's income, thus reducing the value of the grantor's estate. One of the key benefits of an IDGT is that it can help you transfer assets to future generations with minimal tax liability. Since the grantor pays the income tax on the trust's income, the assets in the trust can grow tax-free, increasing the value of the trust's assets over time.

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 wealth advisor. They share ways you can eliminate guilt from spending and still reach your goals.

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. Jeff gives an overview of how the first half of the year went and where he thinks the markets will go for the rest of 2023.

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.

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 Kevne Sharp, wealth advisor and Chartered Special Needs Consultant. They share ways that you can help provide financial security for a loved one with special needs or a disability

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 strategies could make a significant impact on their educational expenses.

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.

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 your plan.

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 trustee for you.

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, including the risks.

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.

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 for you.

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 you.

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 universal life (IUL), variable universal life (VUL) and how to determine which option may be right for you.

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 blockchain technology. Ric shares his advice for how much you should invest in cryptocurrency. We'll also discuss the future of blockchain technology and its potential to create a more transparent and secure world.

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 the average costs of Medicare.

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 Medicare and qualifications. Watch Part 2 for a deeper dive on costs and getting the most out of Medicare.

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