Couchside Conversations

Modearn®

Modern life for Gen Xers and Millennials is complicated. Some questions you might be asking yourself... How do I take care of my aging parents and children at the same time? How do I change my career and make more money? Can I renovate my house? Should I buy an investment property? Instead of consulting Google and hoping for the best, with Modearn® by Morton Wealth and our video series, Couchside Conversations, you'll always have someone in your corner—a financial advisor who has gone through the same experiences as you. We believe in more than just financial solutions—we focus on building a lasting relationship with you to ensure your success. We prioritize empathy, awareness, and personalized support to help you navigate every decision with confidence.

  1. 09/04/2025

    Creative Investments Beyond Stocks and Bonds

    There are more ways to invest than just in the traditional stocks and bonds market. Sometimes, thinking outside the box can unlock untapped potential for investors and offer ways to diversify one's portfolio and protect against volatility. Modearn™ advisors Kevin Rex and CEO Jeff Sarti discuss creative investments that offer opportunities for growth through emerging or niche markets. Here are some key takeaways from their conversation: - Lowercase "c" creative investments like Bitcoin are now mainstream, while uppercase "C" creative investments are still niche and less crowded. - Real estate can be creative depending on the approach, such as focusing on niche sectors like healthcare or storage during market dislocations. - Morton Wealth advocates for private credit as a creative investment avenue, lending to businesses and individuals with tangible collateral, providing stock-like returns but with less volatility. - Modern investors are often distrustful of traditional institutions, fueled by political and economic uncertainty, inflation concerns, and fears around money-printing. - Creative investments often involve more work and expertise, particularly in assessing risk through due diligence on operational, structural, and collateral factors. - Jeff and Kevin urge investors to consider adding more international stocks to their portfolio, with a preferred mix of two-thirds U.S. stocks and one-third international to take advantage of global opportunities and mitigate U.S. market overvaluation.

    21 min
  2. 09/04/2025

    3 Biggest Money Mistakes I Wish I Avoided

    Making decisions around your finances can be overwhelming, with countless ways to make mistakes along the way. But what are the most common and costly money errors you should avoid? In this episode, Modearn™ advisors Patrice Bening and Beau Wirick open up about their personal experiences and reveal the three biggest financial missteps they wish they'd never made—so you can learn from their past and steer clear of these pitfalls yourself. Here are some key takeaways: - Not having a spending strategy: It's easy to spend unintentionally when you don't have a plan. Many of us overspend on short-term gratification and end up missing opportunities that could've changed our lives in considerably significant ways. Create a realistic spending strategy that gives purpose to your money and aligns with your long-term goals and values. - Not using credit wisely: Many of us are afraid of debt because no one told us it can be a huge leverage! Using debt strategically (like taking a mortgage on a rental property) can enhance investment returns compared to buying with cash, thanks to tax deductions. - Not paying yourself first: Did you know that investing $5,000 annually for 40 years amounts to $1 million, but investing the same amount for 30 years, just 10 years less, compounds to only $500,000? Time is your best friend - prioritize investing now. Instead of saving what's left after spending, spend what's left after saving and investing.

    24 min
  3. 09/04/2025

    Battle of the Spouses: Financial Edition

    Studies show that disagreeing over money is one of the top reasons for divorce. Is it possible for couples to prevent finances from deteriorating their relationship, and instead embrace the topic of money in a healthier and more productive way? This episode of Couchside Conversations is from Morton Wealth’s 2023 Investor Symposium. Wealth Advisor Beau Wirick and his wife, Daniela Wirick, who is a relationship coach, share their story and emphasize the importance of working with your partner to create a financial plan that respects both of your core needs and dreams.  They start by introducing the Gottman Institute’s methodology, which can accurately predict the longevity of a relationship based on observable behaviors like criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling. It is important to be aware of these unproductive communication styles when resolving a disagreement with your partner.  Daniela suggests using “compromise ovals,” which may help couples map out their non-negotiable needs, areas they can be flexible in and overlapping goals. Beau and Daniela also recommend couples to delve into the “why” behind each other’s viewpoints to further understand and settle financial conflicts.  Stay tuned for more Couchside Conversations episodes! We have topics coming up like…  - Parenting Tips for Financially Savvy Kids  - Protecting Your Family Using Insurance - Owning a Home/Investment Property

    22 min

About

Modern life for Gen Xers and Millennials is complicated. Some questions you might be asking yourself... How do I take care of my aging parents and children at the same time? How do I change my career and make more money? Can I renovate my house? Should I buy an investment property? Instead of consulting Google and hoping for the best, with Modearn® by Morton Wealth and our video series, Couchside Conversations, you'll always have someone in your corner—a financial advisor who has gone through the same experiences as you. We believe in more than just financial solutions—we focus on building a lasting relationship with you to ensure your success. We prioritize empathy, awareness, and personalized support to help you navigate every decision with confidence.