Living Fully Conversations

In this episode, John and his wife, Kelle, speak with two Highland advisors and certified Wealth Confidants, Kyle Thomas and Colleen Kroeger, about how to best approach providing financial assistance to their adult children. In this conversation key questions are raised and addressed: How do you provide financial help in a way that is equitable among your children? How do you ensure you are helping your kids in such a way so that it is good for the kids, for you and your relationship? What is the best way to help them given the financial and family dynamics? Get insights on how to make smart decisions when it comes to supporting your adult children financially. You’ll get tangible ideas for navigating these decisions and learn how Highland helps clients think about the big picture, understand their true financial options and consider the best course forward based on what will serve the family as a whole.

Throughout life, you’re often warned about the downsides of middle age— bodies and brains change, social circles shift, and ageism can rear its head at work. It's no wonder many approach this phase with dread or fear. But what if you viewed this stage in life not as a crisis, but as a "chrysalis"? In this conversation, John speaks with New York Times bestselling author, entrepreneur, and CEO of the Modern Elder Academy, Chip Conley about the idea that midlife is a transformative journey brimming with new purpose and unexplored possibilities. Chip shares insights from his new book, Learning to Love Midlife: 12 Reasons Why Life Gets Better with Age (http://tinyurl.com/lovemidlife) offering an alternative narrative to the way people commonly think of middle age, which is defined as the time between 35-75 years of age. John and Chip also spotlight the pivotal role financial advisors can play during this stage of your life. When advisors step into the role of coach, or what we refer to as a Wealth Confidant, they can help you connect your money to what matters most in life and help you take a holistic view of wealth. No matter where you are in your midlife journey, this conversation will inspire you to find joy, purpose, and success in the years ahead and maximize your return on midlife. John is giving away signed copies of Chip’s new book to 5 lucky winners - sign up to receive the Living Fully newsletter here to enter: highlandprivate.com/living-fully.html About Chip Conley: At 26, Chip Conley founded what became the second largest boutique hotel brand in America. Twenty-four years later he sold his company and joined Airbnb as the in-house “modern elder” to the three young founders. Today he is CEO of the Modern Elder Academy, with a campus in Baja California Sur and two forthcoming locations in Santa Fe, NM. He is a popular keynote speaker and a New York Times bestselling author. Never miss an episode. Follow Living Fully Conversations here: https://pod.link/1231103056

In this conversation, John speaks with Lisa Mayfield, founder of Aging Wisdom, a provider of senior care services & management in the greater Seattle & Bellevue areas about the challenges faced by the "sandwich generation" – individuals in their forties and fifties who are simultaneously caring for aging parents and raising their own children. Topics include resistance to help, the burden of care amidst work and family, planning for our own aging, the role of professional care managers, the cost of care, and preserving relationships. Get insights on how to navigate the complexities of caring for an elderly loved one, and learn about the resources to help you provide the best care possible while maintaining your own well-being in the process.

Did you know that one of the most powerful things you can do for your family is quite simple? Develop a strong family narrative by telling stories. In this interview between John and Dr. Marshall Duke, a professor of psychology at Emory University, you’ll learn about the impact of sharing family stories in order to build resilience in children. You may have seen Dr. Duke featured on Good Morning America, in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and other prominent media outlets. Read more at www.highlandprivate.com/blogs/insight/listen-maximize-your-return-on-your-summer-vacation-questions-to-prompt-meaningful-family-storytelling

Generosity is often a secret and untapped joy creator. When we use our talents, resources and energy to make an impact in our world, we all thrive. And the truth is, everyone can do something, big or small – it all contributes to the wellbeing of our community. Jeff Piha, a CPA at Sweeney Conrad, experienced his own journey of generosity which led him to donate blood marrow to a boy he didn’t know: “There are little things we can all do to make a difference, and we should try to find those opportunities because we’re all lucky in some way. Every single one of us has something we can do. You can change people’s lives, you can make things better.” Listen to an interview with Jeff to learn more about his experience, which may inspire your own journey of generosity. Read more at www.highlandprivate.com/blogs/insight/listen-how-a-prominent-cpa-saved-a-child-he-didnt-know-and-it-reshaped-his-view-of-what-it-means-to-be-generous

A conversation between John Christianson, CEO and Founder of Highland Private Wealth Management and Dr. Michele Borba, one of the foremost authorities on child development. Dr. Borba is the best-selling author of UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in an All About-Me World, and more recently, Thrivers: The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle and Others Shine. An educational psychologist and internationally recognized educator and speaker, she appears regularly on NBC’s Today Show as an expert on character and social-emotional development, bullying prevention and other parenting topics. During their conversation, John and Dr. Borba explore the relationship between privilege and empathy, what makes us altruistic and what doesn’t, and how putting the emphasis on grades rather than empathy can actually be detrimental to your child’s success in the future. They discuss wealth and abundance issues, along with thoughts on where we are going as a culture in terms of raising strong, caring leaders. Read more at www.highlandprivate.com/blogs/insight/how-to-build-empathy-in-kids-in-a-world-of-abundance, and visit www.micheleborba.com for more about Michele's work.

Explore the intersection of money, relationships and purpose through curious & lively conversations with professionals, business leaders, authors and specialists. Join John Christianson, founder and CEO of Highland Private Wealth Management, to gain insight and inspiration for connecting your money to a life of meaning and purpose. Let us know what you'd like to hear on the show by emailing john@highlandprivate.com.

Mike Erwin lives life by three principles: faith, family, and service. He truly understands the impact of selfless service and community. Mike is a graduate of The U.S. Military Academy at West Point where he was commissioned as an officer and went on to serve three combat tours with the 1st Cavalry Division and 3rd Special Forces Group. After his third deployment, Mike founded Team Red, White & Blue. Team RWB is a nonprofit organization that enriches the lives of America’s veterans. They do this by connecting them to their communities through physical and social activity. Today, Mike leads Team RWB as Executive Director. Mike also serves as CEO of The Character & Leadership Center and is the Co-Founder and President of the Positivity Project, where he aims to empower America’s youth in building positive relationships. He’s also the co-author of Lead Yourself First." To learn more about Mike and his work, visit MikeErwin.net. On this episode, you'll hear about: - What selfless service looks like - The power of community - How technology and money affect empathy - The difference between isolation and solitude - Our culture’s loneliness epidemic - Advice for anyone who wants to bring more meaning into their life

Join me as I revisit just a few of the many inspiring conversations I had this year, including: Margie Warrell, Author Duncan Campbell, Friends of the Children Khe Hy, Rad Reads Kendra Vandermeulen, NCF Northwest To learn more about turning meaningful wealth into a meaningful life filled with passion and purpose, connect with me on social media at @jcchristianson or send me an email at john@highlandprivate.com Music: "Day Is Gonna Come" by Royal Deluxe

Often, we equate giving solely with the act of donating money, but it is so much more than that. Giving can be a transformative act, moving you beyond yourself and cultivating a genuine ability to empathize with the struggles of our fellow human beings. I experienced this firsthand while serving with my wife at Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission (UGM). This organization seeks to see, hear, know and love the people experiencing homelessness in King County. In this episode of The Wealth Confidant podcast, I am honored to be speaking with UGM’s new President, Scott Chin. We learn what brought Scott to UGM and where he hopes to see the organization go in the future. Scott reflects on inspiring stories of personal transformation, tells us about UGM's lifesaving recovery programs and shares how people can help further the organization’s work. You can learn more about Scott Chin and Union Gospel Mission by visiting their website: www.ugm.org and following them on social media at @SeattlesUGM. To learn more about turning meaningful wealth into a meaningful life filled with passion and purpose, connect with me on social media at @jcchristianson or send me an email at john@highlandprivate.com Music: "Day Is Gonna Come" by Royal Deluxe

Be positive. Think on the bright side. We’ve all heard advice like this at some point in our lives. We also know that changing your mindset isn’t as easy as flipping a switch. While studies do show that thinking and speaking negatively can have a hugely adverse effect on us, “being positive” just isn’t a realistic solution for many people. Today’s guest, Trevor Moawad, emphasizes a different strategy: neutral thinking. Trevor is the founder of Moawad Consulting Group. He specializes in mental conditioning for high performing athletes like Russell Wilson as well as military and business organizations. Trevor is also the author of the upcoming book, It Takes What It Takes. Readers will learn how to apply his methods to their own lives in order to overcome challenges -- and thrive. To learn more about Trevor and his work, visit moawadconsultinggroup.com Trevor and I dig into: What we can learn from top athletes. How to become a judgment-free thinker. The impact language has on our mindset. The importance of discipline and process in moving beyond the negative. To learn more about turning meaningful wealth into a meaningful life filled with passion and purpose, connect with me on social media at @jcchristianson or send me an email at john@jcchristianson.com Music: "Day Is Gonna Come" by Royal Deluxe

Millennials make up the largest generation in our country. How are they navigating life’s major financial milestones as they get older? What are the unique challenges they face and how does money affect their relationships? Erin Lowry helps millennials get their financial lives together. Erin is a personal finance expert and the author of the Broke Millennial series, including her new book, Broke Millennial Takes on Investing. Erin effectively translates the important principles of personal finance to help fellow millennials gain control of their money. On this episode, she shares her insight into the millennial mindset around money, the factors that shaped it, and more. You can learn more about Erin and her work at brokemillennial.com We discuss: —Myths (and truths!) about millennials. —How parents and millennials can tackle difficult financial scenarios. —Why millennials — and people in general — don’t like talking about money. —How to deal with money in relationships by becoming “financially naked.” —The advice that millennials should not take. —The asset millennials have that older generations do not. To learn more about turning meaningful wealth into a meaningful life filled with passion and purpose, connect with me on social media at @jcchristianson or send me an email at john@jcchristianson.com Music: "Day Is Gonna Come" by Royal Deluxe

Khe Hy calls himself an accidental entrepreneur—he started his own business, RadReads, when he got tired of the “winners and losers,” scarcity mentality he experienced during his fourteen-year career on Wall Street. Today, Khe spends his time writing and speaking on money, the different levels of financial independence, mortality, and more. Go check out Khe’s website at https://radreads.co/ for more on his work. On this episode, we discuss: —Identity and spirituality —Toxic masculinity —The reality of retirement —Finding peace with yourself To learn more about turning meaningful wealth into a meaningful life filled with passion and purpose, connect with me on social media at @jcchristianson or send me an email at john@jcchristianson.com Music: "Day Is Gonna Come" by Royal Deluxe

Parents have tremendous influence over their kids when it comes to money. As kids of all ages head back to school, it’s a great time for families to reevaluate the way we address money. On this special episode, I discuss: —The importance of talking to your kids about money —Tips for handling allowances and budgeting —How to instill money-skills in an age-appropriate way To learn more about turning meaningful wealth into a meaningful life filled with passion and purpose, connect with me on social media at @jcchristianson or send me an email at john@jcchristianson.com

Patrick Sweeney is turning fear on its head to help others live a more fulfilled life. Patrick is a full-time adventurer. He’s on a mission to help others use fear as fuel. The key to unlocking your inner adventurer might not be what you think. Patrick encourages people to embrace fear rather than avoid it in order to grow and make better decisions. Even though Patrick’s an Olympic level rower, he wasn’t always out chasing hair-raising adventures — he worked as a successful tech entrepreneur until a rare case of leukemia had him fighting for his life. This milestone gave Patrick a new perspective. Today, he draws on his entrepreneurial background, fighting spirit, and desire to help people in order to live his life to the fullest — and support others to do the same. On this episode, we get into: —The physiology behind fear —Going from success to significance —How to live in the present —The path to living big To learn more about turning meaningful wealth into a meaningful life filled with passion and purpose, connect with me on social media @jcchristianson or send me an email at john@highlandprivate.com Music: “Day Is Gonna Come” by Royal Deluxe

One of the main reasons people seek out financial professionals is because money can be so complicated. A great financial advisor is someone you can trust. A person who can listen and translate what you want and need in your life into actionable plans, and who understands your values and how to align your money with them. It can go beyond being an advisor to what I consider being a confidant. Financial advisors aren’t traditionally well versed in the emotional and psychological connections to money. But, we are starting to see more and more advisors make their clients’ overall happiness a number one priority. Brian Portnoy earned his doctorate at the University of Chicago and has worked throughout the financial industry. He’s also the author of two great books: The Investor’s Paradox and The Geometry of Wealth. Brian’s perspective really resonated with me. He’s not afraid to bring insight from many different disciplines to his work. Brian believes that elements of a joyful life and the financial decisions we make are complementary. Taking both into account, people can find true wealth -- what he calls “funded contentment.” This more holistic approach is something I strive toward in my own financial life coaching. We discuss: —The future of the financial advising industry —What it means to afford a meaningful life —How generosity affects our own sense of wellbeing —The difference between getting rich and becoming wealthy To learn more about turning meaningful wealth into a meaningful life filled with passion and purpose, connect with me on social media at @jcchristianson or send me an email at john@highlandprivate.com Music: "Day Is Gonna Come" by Royal Deluxe

One common misconception around generosity is that you have to have abundant financial resources in order to affect change. But philanthropy can go beyond writing checks -- we all have time, talent, and experience we can contribute to make the world a better place. I met today’s guest, Amitabh Shah, in New York when I was speaking at the Harvard Club recently for my book tour. I was struck by his generous spirit and wanted to know more about what made him tick and the passion he has for impacting the world in significant ways. Amitabh completed his MBA at Yale and passed up a Wall Street offer in order to devote his time to helping others. He believes that young people have the power and determination it takes to make a positive impact. Amitabh himself was just 23 years old when he founded YUVA Unstoppable. YUVA, meaning “Youth,” mobilizes volunteers to help underprivileged children across India. One of the ways they do this is by providing necessities like water, bathrooms, and technology to some of India’s poorest public schools. All of these upgrades dramatically improve the lives of children and increase their access to education. You can visit yuvaunstoppable.org for more information about Amitabh’s work. During our conversation, we also get into: —The differences in generosity culture between India and the United States —How to give beyond writing checks —Where Amitabh’s big-hearted nature came from —The importance of gratitude To learn more about turning meaningful wealth into a meaningful life filled with passion and purpose, connect with me on social media at @jcchristianson or send me an email at john@jcchristianson.com Music: "Day Is Gonna Come" by Royal Deluxe

Navigating the emotional and practical challenges of having aging parents is one of the difficult realities of life. Most people don’t want to talk about it -- after all, managing our own finances and lives can be demanding enough! It’s a complicated situation, but waiting too long to have essential financial conversations with loved ones can lead to serious problems down the road. Today’s guest, Cameron Huddleston, is helping people have these essential conversations with their parents. Cameron is an award-winning journalist with over 17 years of experience writing about personal finance. Her latest project is a fantastic book called Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk. In the book, Cameron draws on her own experience to offer clear, crucial advice for anyone dealing with aging parents regardless of income level. For more tips from Cameron, head to her website: cameronhuddleston.com We discuss: —Why people are hesitant to talk to their parents about money —Why parents aren’t initiating these conversations with their children —How to ease the process of getting involved in your parents’ financial lives —The most important question you can ask your parents today To learn more about turning meaningful wealth into a meaningful life filled with passion and purpose, connect with me on social media at @jcchristianson or send me an email at john@jcchristianson.com Music: "Day Is Gonna Come" by Royal Deluxe

Beri Meric is the co-founder and CEO of IVY: The Social University, a community that unites rising leaders through a lifetime of learning, growth, and impact. After attending Harvard Business School, Beri and his co-founder were inspired to bring the benefits of leading universities to entrepreneurs, creatives, and innovative professionals all over the world. Beri’s mission is to spark a new renaissance promoting human unity, progress, and fulfillment through education and community. He believes that by helping as many people as possible to unlock their potential, he can make a big impact on the world. To get more information about Beri’s work, visit www.berimeric.com. To learn more about IVY, visit www.ivy.com Beri and I also discuss: —What it means to be a global citizen —Lifelong lessons he learned from his parents —Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs —How to make business a force for good To learn more about turning meaningful wealth into a meaningful life filled with passion and purpose, connect with me on social media at @jcchristianson or send me an email at john@jcchristianson.com Music: "Day Is Gonna Come" by Royal Deluxe

Former NBA star Troy Murphy has made it his mission to assist clients in managing their newfound resources. He’s also committed to creating financially prepared, responsible, and savvy consumers. Troy entered the professional sports world at age 20 to play for the Golden State Warriors and found himself and his teammates grappling with how to handle their new financial reality. Unlike wealth creators in the business world, professional athletes spend most of their time focused on their craft without gaining real-world money management experience. After retiring from basketball, Troy set out to become the resource he wished he’d had when he was a rookie. He recently launched his own financial advisory firm called Sweven Wealth. Sweven is tuned to the needs of athletes and 100% of their profit is donated to high school consumer awareness and financial literacy programs. To check out Troy’s work as an investment advisor and philanthropist, head over to swevenwealth.com Troy and I also discuss: —How to define yourself outside of work —Where he finds true fulfillment —Practical advice based on his own money experience —Who the greatest NBA player of all time really is To learn more about turning meaningful wealth into a meaningful life filled with passion and purpose, connect with me on social media at @jcchristianson or send me an email at john@jcchristianson.com Music: "Day Is Gonna Come" by Royal Deluxe