Exploring Life & Business with Patrice Bening of Morton Wealth

Today we’d like to introduce you to Patrice Bening.

Hi Patrice, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in a small city in Transylvania, Romania. As a child, I grew up worry free, even though the early part of my childhood was spent during the times that Romania was under the horrible communist regime and as ruled by Nicolae Ceausescu. I also remember the year when the Chernobyl disaster happened – I was just 8 years old.

Because we had extended family in Canada and the US, my parents decided that it would be a good idea for me to study English early on (3rd grade), even though it was a forbidden language at the time (during communism).
In 1989, the Berlin wall fell and that led to a series of political events which also included the Romanian revolution and the capture and execution of the dictator and his wife (which I got to see live on TV, at the ripe age of 11.

I finished high school in Romania, and I had planned to come to the US for college, which I eventually did, but I also, unexpectedly, met my current husband that summer.
It’s a wild story – we are still married 29 years later and have two boys, who are now in college. Happy to provide additional details.

I graduated with a degree in finance from Cal State Northridge, while working full time at Bank of America. I spent the first part of my professional career (about 17 + years) in banking and before taking a leap of faith and pursuing a lifelong dream: becoming a Wealth Advisor and Certified Financial Planner.

Joining Morton Wealth nearly eight years ago was more than a career change. It was the opportunity to do work that truly lights me up. I am deeply passionate about helping families gain clarity and confidence around their money, especially during life’s biggest transitions. Money touches nearly every aspect of our lives, yet so many people feel overwhelmed, intimidated, or alone when making financial decisions. I love being the person who helps turn uncertainty into confidence and complex decisions into clear paths forward.

As one of the relatively few women in the profession, that mission feels especially meaningful. Women make up only about 31% of financial advisors in the U.S., and fewer than 25% hold the CFP® designation. My “why” is simple: I didn’t enter this industry because I loved markets or spreadsheets. I found my way here because I saw what happens when a family doesn’t talk about money — and who ultimately carries the weight of that silence.

A few years after joining Morton, three of my female advisor colleagues and I launched Herself by Morton. We created it with a simple mission: to give women a place to learn, connect, and grow together. Through conversations about money, health, purpose, and life transitions, we’ve built a community where women can ask questions, share experiences, and gain confidence. For many women, the challenge isn’t a lack of interest in financial literacy, it’s simply not knowing where to start. We wanted to change that.

I am also long distance runner, I have run six marathons, a couple of 50Ks, hiked up Mt. Whitney twice. I love the outdoors, listening to books, good wine, and spending time with my family and friends.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
– left my country and family behind to pursue higher education
– got married young (18.5 yrs old)
– worked full time while going full-time to school – plus who wanted to be friends with a 20 yr old who was married and had a full time job in college?
– early in my career, and for many years, I felt pressure to fit into a culture that wasn’t designed with women in mind.
– lost my mother-in-law in my late 30s to ALS (she was like a second mother to me) and that was a devastating loss to our family.
– making a lateral career shift at 40 wasn’t easy, but it was the best leap of faith and investment in myself that I could have made.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
What should we know about Morton Wealth? What do you do, and what are you known for?
Morton Wealth is an independent wealth management firm based in Calabasas. We’ve been serving families and business owners across Southern California since 1983. As of today, our team of 64 manages $3.6 billion for more than 1,200 clients.
We are best known for our conviction that a traditional portfolio of stocks and bonds is no longer enough. For over four decades, we have built portfolios around alternative investments alongside the usual asset classes, with the goal of generating meaningful income and holding up well when the market gets uncomfortable.

What sets you apart?
A few things set our approach apart.
The first is what we call the Healthy Skeptic philosophy, grounded in three principles that shape every portfolio decision we make: build for resilience, not prediction. Diversify where it actually counts. Generate real income.
The second is the depth of our team. We have 15 CFP® professionals, 7 CFA® charterholders, 2 Certified Exit Planning Advisors, and a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst on staff. Our investment team manages access to more than 40 private investments that most firms don’t have the infrastructure to source or vet.
The third is our commitment to making quality financial planning available to people who haven’t yet reached the traditional wealth management thresholds. Our Modearn® offering was built specifically to serve clients in their earning years, with flat-fee pricing rather than asset minimums.

What are you most proud of, brand-wise?
Our firm turns 43 this year, and we are most proud of what we have built around education and perspective. Beyond portfolio management, we host an annual Investor Symposium, now in its fifth year, with programming on strategy, knowledge, and life. We publish The Healthy Skeptic, a quarterly newsletter from our CEO Jeff Sarti. And we produce two shows: Financial Commute, a weekly podcast co-hosted by Chris Galeski and our CIO Meghan Pinchuk, and Couchside Conversations, a video series on the harder money conversations most people avoid.
We are also proud that our advice is not limited to those who have already accumulated wealth. Modearn® exists to serve clients earlier in their journey, when thoughtful planning can shape decades of financial decisions.
What do you want readers to know about your offerings?
We work with clients across three service offerings:

Morton Wealth is our core offering for individuals and families, with portfolio management and comprehensive planning across tax, estate, and private alternative investments for eligible investors.

Modearn® by Morton Wealth is designed for clients in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. It includes financial coaching, portfolio management, and planning that evolves with life, structured in three tiers: Essentials, Evolve, and Elevate.

Strategist by Morton Wealth is built for business owners planning a sale or transition. It integrates the business decisions (preliminary valuation, readiness, and deal modeling) with the personal ones, so the proceeds support the life clients want to live afterward.

Readers can learn more at mortonwealth.com or by calling (818) 222-4727. We are located at 27200 Agoura Road, Suite 200, Calabasas, CA 91301.

What matters most to you?
If you asked me what matters most to me, it would be helping women realize they are far more capable than they’ve been led to believe when it comes to money and life decisions.

I’ve met countless successful women who have become the default project manager for nearly every aspect of family life while simultaneously building careers, caring for children, supporting aging parents, and managing households. Something has to give, and too often finances end up on the list of things delegated away.
The reality is that life happens. Divorce happens. Illness happens. Death happens. Betrayal happens. Circumstances change. When they do, the cost of not understanding your financial life can be significant, both financially and emotionally.

That’s why I co-founded Herself by Morton. Herself isn’t just about investing. It’s a community where women can have real conversations about money, wellness, life transitions, purpose, and the decisions that shape their futures. It’s a space for learning, connection, and building confidence together.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mortonwealth.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mortonwealth/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mortonwealth/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@morton_wealth