What if your home could be more than just a place to live, and instead, a powerful part of your retirement strategy?
In this episode, Mark Taylan dives into how home equity can serve as a dynamic tool in retirement planning. From home equity lines of credit to reverse mortgages, Mark shares how your house can provide flexibility, bridge unexpected expenses, and even support long-term care needs.
Mark discusses:
Why establishing a home equity line of credit before retirement can make future planning easier
How downsizing or right-sizing your home creates freedom and liquidity
The role of real estate in legacy planning for your family
Creative strategies like rentals and ADUs for generating income
Money is never just about numbers. It is about emotions, values, and the stories that shape our financial choices.
In this episode of Beyond the Dollar Signs: Financial Clarity, Mark Taylan explores why understanding the emotional side of money is essential to building clarity and confidence in financial decisions. He explains how emotions influence everything from risk tolerance to spending habits, often more than numbers or charts ever could. Tune in to hear practical tools, real client stories, and strategies that align money with what truly matters most.
Mark discusses:
How childhood experiences and family backgrounds influence financial behavior
Ways couples uncover hidden differences in their views on risk and money
Practical tools, like risk questionnaires, to create alignment and reduce conflict
The importance of designing layered strategies that balance emotions with long-term goals
Real client stories about market timing and overspending in retirement
Life insurance is a conversation many avoid, but it’s one of the most important tools for protecting your loved ones and the life you’ve built.
In this episode, Mark Taylan sits down with Dorotea Tuzon, a State Farm Agent from Northern California, for a candid conversation on life insurance; how it works, why it matters, and the real stories that prove its value. Dorotea offers practical tips on finding coverage that truly fits your life.
Key highlights include:
How to protect both your assets and your family’s financial stability
The differences between term and permanent insurance, and when each makes sense
The role of income replacement in your coverage plan
Real client stories that highlight the impact of getting insured at the right time
About Our Guest: Dorotea Tuzon is a State Farm Agent based in Mota, California. With over eight years in the insurance industry, she leads a team serving thousands of clients, helping them protect what matters most through customized coverage and ongoing guidance.
You’ve worked hard, built wealth, and saved diligently, so why does retirement suddenly feel like a tax trap?
In this episode of Beyond the Dollar Signs, host Mark Taylan breaks down one of the most misunderstood parts of retirement planning for high-income earners: the surprising tax implications of success. From pensions and Social Security stacking up in your highest tax bracket to strategies that can help reduce unnecessary taxes, Mark offers a clear-eyed look at how to keep more of what you’ve built.
Key takeaways include:
Why many retirees are not in a lower tax bracket and what to do about it
Direct indexing: what it is, how it works, and who it’s best for
How Roth conversions may reduce lifetime tax burdens
Why IRMAA and Medicare surcharges catch so many retirees off guard
When it comes to retirement, many homeowners feel stuck—either emotionally tied to their homes or financially strapped with limited options. In this powerful Part Two of the reverse mortgage conversation, Mark Taylan sits down again with reverse mortgage specialist Mike Brouse to go beyond the mechanics and into the impact.
From the heartfelt story of Bonnie, who used a reverse mortgage to stop working, repair her home, and reconnect with family before passing, to strategic conversations about right-sizing homes and preserving equity, this episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating retirement planning.
Here’s what you can expect from part II of this episode:
How reverse mortgages help retirees live, not just survive
The emotional and financial power of staying in your home
Why right-sizing is better than downsizing
What happens to your reverse mortgage when you pass away
With 24 years of experience in the mortgage industry, including senior leadership roles, Mike has dedicated the past five years to specializing in reverse mortgages. His passion lies in helping retirees and older homeowners unlock financial stability and security through strategic home equity solutions.
Throughout his career, he has led teams, driven growth, and navigated the evolving mortgage landscape with a commitment to integrity and client-focused solutions. He believes in educating homeowners, financial professionals, and industry partners about the benefits of reverse mortgages, ensuring they have the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions.
If you’re looking for a trusted resource in the reverse mortgage space—whether as a client, financial advisor, or industry peer—Mike welcomes the opportunity to connect and explore how he can help.
Reverse mortgages carry a lot of baggage, misconceptions, fear, and outdated assumptions.
But what if they could actually be a powerful financial tool to help you stay in your home, fund your lifestyle, or protect your retirement income?
In this episode, Mark Taylan is joined by reverse mortgage specialist Mike Brouse, who brings two decades of experience and a deeply personal story to the conversation. From working with his own in-laws to helping families across California, Mike breaks down what reverse mortgages are (and what they’re not) with clarity, humor, and heart.
You’ll learn why reverse mortgages are no longer a “last resort,” how they fit into a broader retirement strategy, and the truths behind the biggest myths, including who really owns the home, what happens when you move or pass away, and how the loan balance grows over time.
What to expect:
A breakdown of common reverse mortgage myths
How the product actually works, month-to-month
Why financial advisors are rethinking this strategy
The risks of ignoring home equity in retirement planning
With 24 years of experience in the mortgage industry, including senior leadership roles, Mike has dedicated the past five years to specializing in reverse mortgages. His passion lies in helping retirees and older homeowners unlock financial stability and security through strategic home equity solutions.
Throughout his career, he has led teams, driven growth, and navigated the evolving mortgage landscape with a commitment to integrity and client-focused solutions. He believes in educating homeowners, financial professionals, and industry partners about the benefits of reverse mortgages, ensuring they have the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions.
If you’re looking for a trusted resource in the reverse mortgage space—whether as a client, financial advisor, or industry peer—Mike welcomes the opportunity to connect and explore how he can help.
Bringing up a prenup doesn’t have to kill the romance. It can actually create a stronger foundation.
In this episode, Mark Taylan welcomes back Yau Lee, a family attorney based in San Francisco, to talk about the emotional, legal, and financial aspects of premarital agreements. They discuss how to approach the prenup conversation with compassion, what to avoid, and how planning ahead can strengthen, not hinder, a couple’s relationship.
Yau debunks common myths (like “prenups are only for the wealthy”), offers real client stories, and explains the importance of legal consultation for both parties, especially in second marriages or blended family situations. The episode highlights how early and honest communication about finances and legacy planning can be a sign of trust and commitment, not conflict.
Yau discusses:
How to bring up a prenup in a way that builds trust instead of breaking it
What changes when couples bring unequal assets, children, or prior marriages into the equation
Why each partner needs their own legal counsel and what mistakes to avoid
How estate planning and divorce protection differ (and why both matter)
What a successful, respectful prenup process actually looks like from first conversation to signed agreement
Yau Lee is a Partner and Mediator at Nachlis | Cohade | Lopez-Whitaker, LLP. She practices all aspects of Family Law. Though she is a fierce litigator, she finds that it is always a defining moment when she can settle cases without going to trial because she truly believes that it is in the best interest of her client in terms of cost and efficiency. Her dedication to this result has yielded 95 percent of her cases to be settled out of court. Her advocacy happens in the pleadings and negotiations with the opposing counsel. Laying out a thoughtful argument in writing is one of the strongest negotiating tools that she can use to convince the opposing counsel that it is more of a risk to take the case to court.
Yau understands that Family law matters are inherently emotionally charged, and it is important in her approach to not fire up more drama or tension. Emotions won’t get a case heard any better or keep it out of court. Instead, she focuses on how the case aligns with the law and crafts a creative agreement that jointly meets the needs of her clients and the opposing party. Although difficult, she is always honest with her clients about the strategic need to work with the opposing side. Her clients appreciate her strong interpersonal communication skills, responsiveness, and ability to actively listen.
Yau is also an endurance athlete, having participated in more than 10 marathons and six half Ironman distance triathlons. Training for and racing these events has given her the fortitude to remain calm in stressful situations, think on her feet, make predictions, trust the process, and plan for success. Swimming in the open ocean with 14-foot swells or gunning down a hill on your bike at more than 40 miles per hour will give you nerves of steel.
When it comes to retirement, most people think they’re on the right track—until they’re faced with the big picture.
In this episode of Beyond the Dollar Signs, Mark Taylan reflects on what he and his team learned after hosting eight retirement planning dinner workshops with over 200 families.
What stood out? Many attendees had been given fragmented advice, bits and pieces of financial strategies, but no comprehensive plan. Mark shares why it’s so important to look at the full picture: your assets, liabilities, income streams, expenses (yes, including takeout and travel!), and the risks like market volatility, inflation, taxes, and long-term care.
He also breaks down the Wealth Path Process, a step-by-step system he’s built over two decades to help families create a clear roadmap to retirement, and why conversations about legacy, lifestyle, and financial freedom can’t wait until it’s too late.
Here’s what you can expect from this episode:
Why fragmented financial advice falls short
The six factors every retirement plan needs
How to map your assets and expenses in detail
Why lifestyle choices matter as much as the numbers
Losing a spouse isn’t just an emotional blow; it’s a shift in everything you’ve known and planned for.
In this episode of Beyond the Dollar Signs, Mark Taylan shares insights from his years of sitting across the table from couples, families, and individuals navigating the complexities of grief.
It’s about allowing yourself to grieve, not rushing into decisions, and understanding that if you’ve planned, you can find some peace of mind. Mark walks through the key steps you need to take, both emotionally and financially, when a spouse passes: from understanding income changes and revisiting estate plans to knowing who your support system is.
He shares why it’s critical to have these conversations before loss strikes, because when it does, it’s hard to think clearly. And for those stepping into his office for the first time after a loss, Mark offers steady guidance: take care of what’s immediate, breathe, and know there’s no rush.
What to expect from this episode:
How to prepare for loss before it happens—practically and emotionally
What to focus on right now after losing a spouse
The importance of family conversations and identifying a support system
Why having a financial plan in place brings peace of mind
Think a prenup is just for the ultra-wealthy? Think again.
In this eye-opening conversation, family law attorney Yau Lee joins Mark Taylan to demystify the world of prenuptial agreements and why they matter for everyday couples. From legal must-haves to emotional landmines, this episode unpacks the realities behind one of the most misunderstood legal tools in relationships today.
What you’ll learn about in this episode:
Dive deep into the often mysterious ‘marriage contract’ and learn what it really entails [00:03:57]
[00:06:03] Discover the importance of being curious and proactive about the financial rules you’re marrying into [00:06:03]
Understand why having separate legal representation is crucial for a prenup [00:09:20]
Explore discussions on family planning and the rights of future children regarding finances [00:16:01]
Yau Lee is a Partner and Mediator at Nachlis | Cohade | Lopez-Whitaker, LLP. She practices all aspects of Family Law. Though she is a fierce litigator, she finds that it is always a defining moment when she can settle cases without going to trial because she truly believes that is in the best interest of her client in terms of cost and efficiency. Her dedication to this result has yielded 95 percent of her cases to be settled out of court. Her advocacy happens in the pleadings and negotiations with the opposing counsel. Laying out a thoughtful argument in writing is one of the strongest negotiating tools that she can use to convince the opposing counsel that it is more of a risk to take the case to court.
Yau understands that Family law matters are inherently emotionally charged, and it is important in her approach to not fire up more drama or tension. Emotions won’t get a case heard any better or keep it out of court. Instead, she focuses on how the case aligns with the law and craft a creative agreement that jointly meets the needs of her clients and the opposing party. Although difficult, she is always honest with her clients about the strategic need to work with the opposing side. Her clients appreciate her strong interpersonal communication skills, responsiveness and ability to actively listen.
Yau served as a judicial extern to the Honorable Judge Monica F. Wiley, Judge Lillian K. Sing (retired), and Judge Ronald E. Alberts of the San Francisco Unified Family Court. She received her Juris Doctor from Golden Gate University School of Law and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Ethnic Studies from the University of California, San Diego.
