Most people think of life insurance as something you buy and hope your family never needs.
In this episode, Mark Taylan reframes that idea completely and explains how indexed universal life can serve not only as protection, but as a long-term planning tool that may support retirement income, taxes, and future flexibility.
Mark discusses:
How indexed universal life works in plain language
Why higher-earning families often look for additional planning options once traditional accounts are maxed out
How cash value grows, how loans work, and why tax treatment matters
Real-world scenarios where an IUL may offer another planning avenue
The greatest wealth transfer in history is already underway, and for many families, it’s about more than just money. It’s about legacy, values, and trust.
In this episode, Mark Taylan breaks down what the Great Wealth Transfer really means for families as trillions move from baby boomers to the next generation. He shares how intentional estate planning, gifting strategies, and honest family conversations can prevent conflict, preserve relationships, and ensure that wealth creates a positive impact across generations.
Mark discusses:
How to start the right conversations about inheritance and gifting before it’s too late
The importance of transparency and documented estate plans to avoid family disputes
Why every wealth transfer should include a plan for passing on values, not just assets
Real-world strategies to gift wisely, reduce taxes, and support loved ones responsibly
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
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.
