Chief Executive Officer, Partner
(818) 591-6217
23
B.S. in Biology, Stanford University
M.B.A., Anderson School of Management, UCLA
CFA®, MBA
For me, a “wealthy life” comes down to spending time with the ones I love and appreciating the little moments. I love nothing more than spending time with my wife and three kids, whether it’s a beach vacation, making dinner together, or just watching a movie with them on a Saturday night. It also means being intellectually engaged and being afforded opportunities to learn something new on a regular basis.
I feel so lucky to be at a place in my career where the work that I do is engaging on so many levels. First of all, the responsibility we have to protect our clients’ nest eggs while helping them accomplish their lifelong goals is humbling and inspires me to always push myself toward the “pursuit of being better.” Secondly, our industry affords endless opportunities to learn something new, as investments and financial planning opportunities are always changing. Finally, I love the camaraderie and collaboration with my teammates. The energy in our hallways is fun and invigorating!
I actually have two fun facts: My wife and I foster kittens—the max number we had at one time was over 20! And I can say the alphabet backwards more easily than forwards.
Chief Investment Officer, Partner
(818) 591 6211
17
B.A. in English, summa cum laude, UCLA
CFA®, CFP®
Wealth for me is measured in enjoyment. I am happiest when I’m spending time with my family and friends, whether that’s tickle-tackling my two little kids, fencing epee with my husband, or laughing over good food (preferably sushi) and wine with friends. I also enjoy quiet time to read a book (probably a Jane Austen novel) or learn about something new.
I love that we have created an environment that encourages constant learning and engagement. We approach everything, whether that’s investments, financial planning, or team dynamics, with an open mind and a drive to be better. This allows us to truly serve our clients’ best interest, even if doing so veers from more traditional paths taken by others in our industry. Our approach not only satisfies my own personal curiosity, but has also attracted a group of individuals with similar energy and passion with whom I am excited and grateful to work.
I met my husband on the fencing team when I was a freshman at UCLA. Over the years, I was his assistant coach and we now have our own fencing club: Ace Fencing Academy in Agoura Hills.
Chief Operating Officer, Chief Marketing Officer, Partner
(818) 591 6206
8
B.A. in Business Economics, UCSB
B.A. in Religious Studies, UCSB
CFP®, Series 65
For many people, wealth can be intimidating. It is difficult to make decisions about how to save, spend, and set goals. But what I have learned over my years in financial services is that it doesn’t have to be. Wealth is more than a number and my perspective on wealth has to be combined with values and a mindset shift to truly achieve my goals. I value time with family and friends, usually over a farm-to-table meal with craft cocktails or an outdoor adventure. This is what a “wealthy life” looks like for me—more time with the people I love.
I love to create environments where people can thrive—whether that results in our clients getting the most life out of their wealth or the team getting the most life out of their careers. We have a unique opportunity to make a big impact in the lives we serve and having that “sacred duty” inspires me.
My husband and I met on the playground in South Lake Tahoe at five years old. He is kind, thoughtful, creative, and talented, and I feel lucky that we have gotten to enjoy so much life together.
Chief Compliance Officer, Partner
(818) 591 6214
7
B.S. in Business Administration, Touro University International
J.D., Southwestern Law School
To me, wealth is the ability to do the things that give our lives meaning, such as spending time with family or involvement in our community. So many people get caught up on the “hedonic treadmill” in their pursuit of wealth and ultimately find that their goal isn’t achieved by seeing a certain balance reflected on their portfolio statement. Focusing on meaningful experiences can make us truly wealthy, regardless of our net worth.
As a risk management professional, I take pride in building a resilient firm that can support our clients and their future generations. By working “behind the scenes” to maintain a strong and compliant firm infrastructure, I’m able to ensure that our advisors can provide the highest possible level of service to our clients.
I’m the oldest of twelve siblings. Things weren’t quiet growing up with nine brothers and two sisters, but I could always count on having enough players for a full-court basketball game at any time!
Director of Operations, Partner
(818) 206 2917
6
B.A. in philosophy, UCSB
To me, wealth is the ability to fully enjoy the parts of my life that are most meaningful to me—family, friends, community, and place of work. It’s spending time with loved ones, trips to the beach, and coaching my son’s baseball team.
What inspires me the most about the work I do is having the opportunity to help our team members fulfill their career/life goals and, in some cases, bring further clarity on what those goals are. Whether it be through working with them on further development of technical skills, discussions on how to deal with challenging conversations, or even the recruitment of new team members to add to the Morton family, seeing our people grow personally and professionally is what fills my cup.
In 2010, I traveled to Costa Rica to tour five different coffee farms and had an opportunity to pick cherries along with the farmers. Before MC, I worked for Peet’s Coffee and Tea for 15 years, so my love of coffee runs deep!
Wealth Advisor, Strategic Specialist
(818) 206 2958
4
B.S. in Business Administration, magna cum laude
CFP®, Series 65
Wealth is not about what you have, but it is about how you experience life. When I look back on my childhood, I remember how much fun it was to have a lemonade stand, not how much money we made. I remember taking trips to the river and wakeboarding, not caring if the boat was ours, borrowed from a friend, or rented. As a mom, I hope to create a life full of memories for my children, instilling in them a love and a joy for the things we get to experience together. To me, wealth is living my life as fully as possible—the warm feeling of cuddling with my kids before bed, the crunch of homemade pizza crust, or even the relaxation associated with the first sip of wine after a long day.
I am inspired by breakthroughs. In my role, I have the opportunity to see these “aha” moments, both internally and externally. Whether it is an associate advisor finally figuring out how to model in an advanced scenario for a client’s financial plan or the client seeing that scenario and getting the peace of mind associated with knowing its impact, moments of realization that lead to relief are the moments that keep me excited about my role and career.
I have a disdain for the taste of cheese and most dairy products, but I cannot eat popcorn without copious amounts of freshly grated cheddar cheese on it.
Director of Finance and HR, Partner
(818) 206 2930
21
B.A. in history, Texas A&M University
Wealth is having the ability and flexibility to accomplish any specific goals I might have across all facets of life. In some cases, it might mean having the money to travel abroad but I’ve found that, in most cases, money has very little to do with it. Wealth is mostly associated with family, friends, and a career that allows you the space to spend time doing the things you want in life with the people you care for the most. Time may be the most important piece of wealth because if you don’t have it or cannot create more time for the truly important things in life, I just don’t see how you can truly live a life full of wealth.
I think being surrounded by incredibly smart and gifted colleagues not only makes everyone else better at what they do, but also generally leads to strong relationships at work, where people genuinely care about people they may work with for many years. Being submerged in that environment makes me want to keep up with everyone else and not be a person who holds anyone back.
During my Peace Corps service in eastern Ukraine, I learned to speak Russian. It’s debatable how solid my language skills are but I could find my way home if dropped off in a random Ukrainian village. I thought about using those skills upon returning to the U.S. but quickly realized that there were some business conversations/concepts I could not describe in Russian. For example, there is no way I could describe SPACs in Russian, but, in my defense, I may not be able to in English either!
Wealth Advisor, Partner
(818) 206 2954
13
B.A. in Economics, San Diego State University
When I was a kid, for the longest time my perception of wealth was money, real estate, cars, and material things. What I have come to realize as I have grown up, had success in my career, and accumulated a number of those things, is that none of this really brings you long-term happiness or the feeling of being wealthy. Time, relationships, and experiences have become the true meaning of wealth for me. I enjoy my family, friends, and experiences much more than a number in an account or a material possession that exists. I want to spend my time golfing, BBQing, going to the beach, drinking good wine, and experiencing different cultures around the world with my family. The people who I have come to learn from and work with who explore their passions and have meaningful relationships with family and friends are much happier than the ones who focus more on money.
Making an impact on my clients’ and colleagues’ lives. I love helping people learn, progress, and achieve their potential, which can be anything from helping clients execute on their “wish list” without fear to helping my coworkers have success, learn, and grow. Being a coach and a mentor to our clients and my colleagues is more fulfilling than individual accomplishments. I am inspired to help people achieve their goals.
I can do a really good Dr. Evil impression.
