January 2026
In this episode, Morton Wealth Advisor Kevin Rex (who also happens to be a seasoned jet-setter) joins his wife, Nicole, and their best friends, Julia and Nick Cirbo, to share real-life tips that make travel easier and more enjoyable. From concierge hacks and LAX valet tricks to non-negotiables like direct flights, scheduled transportation, and maximizing hotel time, this session is packed with tools that can immediately minimize stress and optimize your time.
Tune in if you’re interested in…
* How to travel with friends, families, and couples without tension
* Practical tips like concierge lists, social media research, Black Friday deals, scheduled pickups, and more
* Persuading someone in your life to book a memorable trip with you. Send this episode their way!
Watch Previous Episodes Here:
Ep. 35 What's Your Number? | Morton Wealth
ChatGPT vs. Financial Advisor | Morton Wealth
Good morning, everybody. Thank you for being here. I’m so excited. We get to kick off the lifestyle stage with my favorite topic, which is travel. My name is Kevin Rex. I’m one of the wealth advisors at Morton Wealth, and I’m joined not only by three travel enthusiasts, but also my beautiful wife and our best friends. Together, in the last five years, we’ve been on more than twenty vacations. Over twenty trips.
So we’ve learned a lot along the way. We’ve made some mistakes. Today, our hope and goal is to share some of the tricks and tips we’ve learned to help you avoid those mistakes. Most importantly, though, we want to inspire you to book that next trip because travel has brought us closer together and inspires us to work harder.
We’ve obviously overcome different challenges and those types of things. So today, we’re going to jump right in. You’re here, so hopefully you either love to travel and want to find some new tips, or you’re looking to get into it. I think we can all agree that travel is personal, and travel is really important to the three of us.
I’d love to kick it off by hearing from you. You’re all busy. Why do you prioritize travel? Why do you take the time away from your family and your job to make it happen?
I’ll start. I’m always the largest proponent of traveling, and I think maybe it’s because of the business I’m in. I own a life insurance agency, and I so often see people not take that trip and then regret it. I’m always bugging these three lovely people, saying, let’s just take that trip because we’re not guaranteed our health tomorrow. We’re not guaranteed tomorrow. So why not go out and live our best lives? I’m always the friend in the group pushing everyone and saying, alright, this is the next destination.
Yeah, definitely. A lot of what we talk about is reconnecting with our kids. We’re very busy parents, and all of us have demanding jobs. Travel is a great time to reconnect with our small children, have fun, and be carefree. It’s important to create those memories and hold onto them while we have them.
Yes, and while we love traveling with our kids, we also love traveling without them. For me, there are two big reasons. One is refreshing and recharging. We’re very busy, so it’s nice to go somewhere and unplug. You don’t have to worry about laundry, cooking, or driving kids around. The second is motivation. We like to take good trips, and it motivates us to work harder. It gives us something to look forward to. If we go too long without a trip, we start to feel antsy and stuck in a rut.
Even though we live in a beautiful area, it’s really fun to explore the world, whether domestically or internationally.
I love doing the same thing in a different location. We all have pools we can float in, but it’s different when you’re overlooking the beach or floating while snow is coming down. Experiencing culture and meeting new people is a way to see this huge, amazing world we live in.
So we can all agree that travel is important. Now let’s talk about planning. Do you plan a trip as just a couple, two couples, or a larger group? That can bring complexity. Who do you invite? What happens? Let’s talk about things to consider when planning a trip with other couples.
We’ve all experienced traveling in large groups, and there are a lot of complexities around interests, activities, and where people want to eat. We’ve found a great rhythm traveling together. Our kids are about the same age, so they have similar interests and energy levels. We balance activities with downtime, excursions with rest days, and that balance really works for us.
With two couples, it’s easier to split up and do your own thing. With three or four couples, it can be more challenging because everyone feels obligated to do everything together. With really big groups, people naturally branch off. We’ve found that two couples or very large groups work best.
It’s also important to travel with people who play at your level. I’m known as the bougie one in the group, always pushing for first class or a nicer hotel when we can afford it. That doesn’t mean every trip has to be high end, but it’s important to understand which trips are splurge trips and which are more relaxed or budget friendly. That way there’s no tension around cost or priorities.
That’s a good transition because I’m the budget person in the group.
Nick and I get along really wel.
Though there’s definitely some tension. After traveling together so much, we’ve learned that everyone has a role, and we play to each other’s strengths. Nick, can you talk about how that works for us?
I’m a business coach, so I love roles, responsibilities, and efficiency. I also love traveling well, but I can’t get excited about a trip unless it feels cost effective. If we’re flying first class, it usually makes sense for a longer flight. If we’re staying at a nice hotel, I enjoy it more when we can use credit card points. When we plan a trip, I usually take the first pass at budgeting. If I’m excited about the cost, Nicole pushes us on destination and experience, and Julia brings everything to life with activities, restaurants, and unique local experiences.
You didn’t mention me. What do I bring?
You bring the fun.
Perfect. I just show up.
Kevin’s just the best time.
Now let’s talk about stress. I hear from a lot of people that travel adds stress instead of reducing it. What are some tips and tricks we’ve learned to make travel easier? Nicole, you love using concierge services. You used to be a concierge at a luxury hotel, so talk about that.
Concierge services are incredibly valuable. They know the best restaurants, activities, and hidden gems because they’re constantly connected with the local scene. We always tap into higher end hotel concierges, even at hotels we’re not staying at. They provide curated, up to date lists that save so much time. Julia and I then cross reference those lists with social media, reviews, and recommendations to narrow down what works best for our group.
One of the best tips I’ve learned came from Nick, and it completely changed how I travel.
That’s airport valet services. At major airports, especially in busy cities, you can pull up, hand off your car, and walk straight into the terminal. When you land, they bring your car right back to you. It saves time, reduces stress, and often costs only slightly more than parking yourself.
Consistency has also made travel easier for me. I travel the same way every time when possible. Same airline, same drop off point, same routine. When you remove guesswork, travel becomes much more enjoyable.
When it comes to non negotiables, scheduled transportation is huge for us, especially with kids and lots of gear. Direct flights are another priority because they reduce stress. Packing snacks and activities for kids is something Julia is amazing at. Maximizing hotel time is important too. We like to arrive early and leave later so we actually enjoy the property we’re paying for.
Planning is important, but so is flexibility. Nick, can you talk about how you approach destinations and budgeting?
Credit card points are a huge part of how we travel. We’ve booked last minute trips using points, upgraded rooms, and stayed at incredible properties for very little out of pocket cost. We often book multiple trips knowing we can cancel later. Watching flight prices and cancellation deadlines is key.
One big mistake we’ve learned from is overbooking activities, especially with kids. You need space to breathe and adjust. Another huge lesson is checking passports early. Make sure they’re valid well beyond your return date.
As we wrap up, I’d love for each of you to leave the audience with something motivational.
Just book the trip. You’ll never regret it. The memories are worth it.
Time with kids is limited, and it goes by fast. These trips are about cherishing every moment.
We work hard, and we want to enjoy life while we’re healthy and able. Travel helps us do that.
For me, it’s all about floating. Pool, ocean, mountains, it doesn’t matter. That’s when I truly unplug.
Whatever excites you, let your mind go there. Work backwards, plan it out, and make it happen.
Travel doesn’t have to be perfect. It’s about memories, stories, and shared experiences. The world is big, time is limited, and adventure is always worth it. So let’s all go book that next trip. Thank you so much for being here.
Disclosures: Information presented herein is fordiscussion and illustrative purposes only and is not intended to constitutefinancial advice. The views and opinions expressed by the speakers are as ofthe date of the recording and are subject to change. It should not be assumedthat Morton will make recommendations in the future that are consistent withthe views expressed herein. These views are not intended as a recommendation tobuy or sell any securities, and should not be relied on as financial, tax orlegal advice. You should consult with your finance professional, accountant, ortax professional before implementing any transactions and/or strategiesconcerning your finances.
