When you think of commodities in the current market, you first think of oil and wheat due to Russia and Ukraine. What you may not think about are commodities such as fertilizer and their future impact.
In this episode, Brent Mekosh is joined by the President of General Holdings, Pierre Lapan. Together, they explore the current commodities impacted by Russia and Ukraine while revealing the impact of decreased exports from Russia and Ukraine on farmers and the agricultural industry.
Pierre discusses:
How decreased imports of fertilizer will impact future crops
The geopolitical ramifications of the current gas market
When faced with the news of being cancer-free, patients have a second chance at life.
In this episode, Brent Mekosh is joined by award-winning author and breast cancer survivor Judith Pearson. Judith shares the story of her friend’s journey with cancer and her own experiences that led to her novels and building A 2nd Act, a nonprofit organization that helps guide female cancer survivors to their second act in life.
Judith discusses:
The story of her friend’s journey with cancer
Reasons she started A 2nd Act
What the term ‘survivor’ means for former cancer patients
How past experiences led to the present person and writer she is today
Judy Pearson’s career began in a tree: a wonderful old maple in her parents’ backyard, with a perfect branch on which to sit and write. Now hundreds of thousands of words later, this Michigan native’s voice is still inspiring! She is a best-selling author, an accomplished presenter, and a graduate of Michigan State University. But her favorite title is “story teller.”
Judy is also the founder of A 2nd Act, a nonprofit organization that helps guide female cancer survivors to their second act in life.
You want the best education possible for your child. Sometimes that education costs more than you can afford, regardless of how high above the poverty line you are.
In this episode, Brent Mekosh is joined by Katie Charles, the director of annual giving and stewardship, and Kristie Berg, the director of financial aid at Phoenix Country Day School. Together they outline the mechanics and benefits surrounding the Arizona Private School Tax while revealing the role of donations for students in financial need.
Katie and Kristie discuss:
How individuals and corporations can redirect a portion of their income tax
Who benefits from the Arizona Private School Tax Credit
Potential concerns around the Arizona Private School Tax credit program
How the program works compared to other financial aid programs
When Katie arrived at Phoenix Country Day School in 2014, she brought many years of fundraising experience and expertise to her position of director of annual giving and stewardship. Mrs. Charles says she feels so blessed to be part of the PCDS family and is truly grateful for all the ways the PCDS community supports its students, teachers, and staff. In her free time, Mrs. Charles enjoys spending time with her husband, kids, and lovable boxer dog.
Kristie Berg:
For over two decades, just about every PCDS family has received a warm welcome from Kristie, as she works closely with families during the admissions process and also handles all financial aid. She especially loves the Lower School Garden, and she is not afraid of getting a little dirty during the annual Kindergarten Mud Mania, which happens to be one of her most anticipated events. When she is not at school, Ms. Berg enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, and going on travel adventures, especially ones that include beachcombing.
We know stories about the Hall of Famers and the Superstars of the sports world.
However, the truth is the world of sports is filled with so many professional players that don’t quite get the same spotlight.
In this episode, Brent Mekosh is joined by former professional basketball player Tom Van Arsdale. Tom shares his personal experience in an unlucky yet successful career as a basketball player and his memoir “Journey Man.” He also reveals some behind the scenes of professional athletes, from his views on racism while playing for the NBA to the financial side of sports.
Tom discusses:
What led him to write his story
The importance of sharing one’s life with the next generation
The impact of racism within the NBA
The financial risk and rewards taken by sports team owners
Tom Van Arsdale was born in the great state of Indiana, the heartbeat of the game of basketball. He and his twin brother became Co-Mr. Basketball in the state, at Indianapolis Manual High School. Tom was an All-American at Indiana University and spent 12 years in the NBA, becoming a three-time NBA All-Star.
Tom holds two NBA Records: He’s played the most games without a playoff appearance and scored more points than anyone without a playoff appearance. It was rotten luck to break those records, but Tom’s career is more than those unwitting accomplishments.
At the age of 77, Tom wrote “Journey Man: Celebrating an Unlucky, Unpredictable, and Undeniably Successful NBA Career,” a book dedicated to his reflections of his time in the NBA.
When investing close to home, you know what is happening within the country.
Investing overseas is a bit more challenging.
Dive even deeper into the overseas markets with the director of Royal Capital in Bangladesh, Sami Chowdhury.
In this episode, Brent Mekosh returns with Sami to talk about the markets overseas. Sami reveals how China’s investments impact the US and its relationship with the country. He outlines the problems faced by China and India when it comes to their economy and how those decisions influence our investment opportunities.
Sami discusses:
How China influences the US through funding
The role of policy-makers in addressing the threat
The importance of balancing imports and exports
What investors should look at when investing overseas
When selecting a financial services company, the people you will be working with matter just as much as the company itself.
And at MP Advisors, LLC, you are the hero. The team simply guides you to help you get there.
Welcome to SMART MONEY. SIMPLIFIED. with Brent Mekosh, CFP®, CIMA® of MP Advisors, LLC!
In this inaugural episode, Brent Mekosh introduces you to who he is as a financial advisor and, more importantly, as a person. Brent outlines how he entered the financial services industry, from his father’s influence to his first earnings in lawn care.
Brent discusses:
His first experience in the financial services industry
Brent’s strategic vision for MP Advisors is to understand what motivates his clients and leverage that knowledge to align their financial resources with their most important goals. His passion for this business centers on helping clients achieve more than they could have ever imagined.
Brent is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional and Certified Investment Management Analyst®, holding Series 4,7,24,31,51,63 and 65 licenses. He is also a member of Valley Estate Planners, East Valley Estate Planners and serves on the board of A 2nd Act.
