Strong markets feel good, but growth alone is not a strategy. As the year winds down, this episode asks a simple but often overlooked question: Are you still playing offense, or is it time to protect what you have built?
In this episode, Mark Taylan walks through the critical difference between building wealth and protecting wealth, and why knowing which mode you are in matters more than market headlines.
Mark discusses:
The offense vs. defense mindset when it comes to wealth
Why strong market years can quietly create hidden risk
How rebalancing works and why it is more than just stocks vs. bonds
The role of diversification across sectors and regions
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
When markets surge to new highs, emotions surge right along with them. Should you cash out and protect gains or stay invested and risk the next dip?
In this episode, Mark Taylan unpacks the psychology of investing, including the fear of missing out, loss aversion, and the myth of perfect timing. Drawing on decades of experience, Mark shares how stress-testing portfolios and focusing on discipline, not headlines, helps families build lasting wealth and peace of mind.
What to expect:
Why timing the market rarely works and what to do instead
How emotions influence investment decisions
The value of stress-testing your portfolio before the next downturn
When we think about retirement income, most people imagine 401(k)s, pensions, or downsizing, but what if the most powerful income stream was already sitting in your backyard?
In this eye-opening episode, Mark Taylan explores Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) as a strategic financial planning tool. From boosting retirement income to supporting multigenerational living, ADUs offer creative, values-aligned solutions for families navigating aging, housing shortages, and rising care costs.
What to expect:
How retirees are using ADUs to unlock $4,000+ in monthly income
Cost breakdowns and permit incentives you need to know
Multigenerational living strategies that support aging parents
How ADUs can help adult children during job transitions
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
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.
