NYLIFE Securities LLC

Registered Representative offering securities
products and services through NYLIFE Securities LLC,
Member FINRA/SIPC, A Licensed Insurance Agency.

Registered Representative

Agent licensed to sell insurance through New York Life Insurance Company.

Financial Professional

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Federal Agent

US Army

Combat Medic

Dallas Police Department

Police Officer

United States Marine Corps

Sergeant

You didn’t build your business or career by accident. So why leave your financial future to guesswork, product pitches, or outdated information?

I’m a Marine Corps and Army veteran turned financial professional based in Colorado but serving clients across the U.S. virtually - helping business owners, high-income earners, and fellow veterans build purposeful wealth. 

Through tax-focused strategies, I help clients:

🔹 Reduce unnecessary tax exposure
🔹 Create sustainable, liquid cash flow
🔹 Safeguard business, family, and legacy
🔹 Gain clarity around retirement and succession

I serve with a holistic mindset—combining insurance, investments, business strategy, and legacy alignment into one adaptive strategy.

If you’ve done “all the right things” but still feel uncertain whether your plan is built to last, let’s talk. Schedule a complimentary, no-obligation second-opinion review.

DM me “Plan,” or connect to start the conversation.

I am licensed as an Agent with New York Life Insurance Company and a Registered Representative of and offer securities products & services through NYLIFE Securities LLC, (Member FINRA/SIPC), A Licensed Insurance Agency and a New York Life Company.

Neither New York Life Insurance Company, nor its agents, provides tax, legal, or accounting advice. Please consult your own tax, legal, or accounting professionals before making any decisions. Any testimonial on this site is based on an individual's experience and may not be representative of the experience of other customers. 

These testimonials are no guarantee of future performance or success. I am not licensed in all jurisdictions.

2000 South Colorado Boulevard
Tower 2 Suite 1175
Denver, CO 80222
Ph: 720.793.2234
Text: 720.599.2323
CA License: 4392569

Most people think stability is about having money.

I used to think that too.

When I was homeless, I thought if I just had enough cash in my pocket, I'd feel secure.

But now, after years as a financial professional, I've learned something different.

I've met people with millions who feel broke.

And I've watched people with modest incomes build unshakable foundations.

Real stability isn't about the number in your account.

Here's what actually creates it:

1. Spending less than you earn
Not sometimes. Every month. This gap is your oxygen. Without it, you're always one emergency away from chaos.

2. Building systems, not relying on willpower
Automate savings before you see the money. Make the right choice the easy choice. Discipline fades. Systems last.

3. Owning your time, not just your stuff
Stability means having options when life hits hard. A job loss. A health crisis. The ability to say no. That's what savings actually buy you.

4. Knowing your enough
The goalpost keeps moving if you let it. Define what secure looks like for you. Then protect it fiercely.

I learned the hard way that money without structure is just noise.

And structure without intention is just stress.

True stability is when your money works for your peace, not against it.

What's one principle you've learned about real financial security?

Ben Batiste

Helping U.S. Military Personnel & Defense Professionals Reduce Taxes, Protect Income & Build Long-Term Wealth | U.S. Marine & Army Veteran | Award Winning Financial Services Professional

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I got the Agent/Advisor of the Month award for September.

But here's what I'm really proud of:

The business owners who finally have a tax strategy that works.
The veterans who turned their service benefits into generational wealth.
The families who now have a clear path to the legacy they want to leave.

This award isn't about me.

It's about showing up for every client like they're the only one.

Running multiple scenarios until we find the strategy that maximizes their wealth protection.
Reviewing strategies until we find the right fit, not just any fit.
Protecting their assets like their money is my money.

Because it matters.

When you're building wealth that will outlast you, you need someone who treats it that way.

I don't chase awards.

I chase results for the people who trust me with their future.

The recognition is nice.

But the thank you texts, the referrals, the "we finally feel secure" moments?

That's what keeps me going.

If you're a business owner or veteran looking to build lasting wealth, let's talk.

I'll bring the same energy that earned this award to your situation.

What's one financial concern keeping you up at night?

I spent years homeless as a kid, off and on.

Uncertainty cuts deeper than hunger.

The Marines and Army gave me structure, discipline, and purpose.

But my real mission started when I realized something:

I could help business owners, military members, and veterans build the financial security I never had.

Every business owner and veteran I work with is fighting for the same thing I fought for. Stability. Peace of mind. A future their kids can count on.

That's why I keep showing up.

Not for recognition.

But because I know what it feels like to have nothing.

And I know what it takes to build something that lasts.

Your hardest chapters can become your most meaningful work.

What drives you to serve?

The "Everything Stops" Myth

Government shutdown doesn't mean economic shutdown.

But the headlines? They'll have you thinking the whole country just freezes.

Here's what you actually need to know as a business owner, veteran, or service member:

75% of federal spending keeps running on autopilot.

Social Security checks? Still coming. Medicare, Medicaid, Federal Reserve ops, military pay, VA benefits? All normal.

Your bank accounts, investments, market portfolio? It's business as usual.

What actually stops is discretionary spending - that's just 25% of the budget. National parks close their gates. Some federal employees get furloughed for a bit. Administrative stuff slows down.

If you're transitioning out of the military, yeah, some civilian paperwork might get delayed. But your core transition benefits, GI Bill payments, and VA healthcare? Those keep flowing.

These are speed bumps. Not roadblocks.

Remember the 2018-2019 shutdown? Lasted 35 days. The economic hit? A tiny 0.02% GDP dip that bounced right back.

Now, if you're facing a furlough or you're in the middle of a military transition, temporary income gaps like this expose something important: you need strategic access to your money when life throws curveballs.

There are specialized accounts that let you tap into accumulated value when you need it - tax-advantaged, no penalties - perfect for bridging that gap between military and civilian paychecks. Other accounts are designed specifically for unexpected expenses, so you can handle short-term disruptions without derailing your long-term wealth building.

The families who handle these situations best? They're not always the highest earners. They're the ones who've structured their finances to absorb temporary hits without throwing their generational wealth plans off track.

Your investment strategy should reflect this reality: The economy keeps moving. It just hits a few speed bumps along the way.

What's your biggest misconception about how government shutdowns actually affect markets?

Perfection isn't required.

But a DIY will can cost your family everything.

Last month I reviewed a case that should terrify anyone with a $49 online will template.

A father of three used LegalZoom to draft his will. Seemed simple. Saved $2,000 in attorney fees.

He died two years later.

The problem? His will said "divide my estate equally among my children."

Sounds clear, right?

It wasn't.

His estate included a family business worth $800,000, a home with $300,000 equity, and $150,000 in retirement accounts.

One child had worked in the business for 15 years. The other two hadn't been involved in decades.

The template didn't address how to value the business. It didn't say whether the working child's sweat equity mattered. It didn't explain who would run the business during probate or how to divide illiquid assets fairly.

The result?

Three years of litigation. $180,000 in legal fees. The business nearly collapsed.

Two siblings stopped speaking.

All to save $2,000.

Here's what people miss about estate planning. It's not about filling in blanks. It's about anticipating conflict. Understanding tax implications. Protecting relationships.

That template didn't ask about business succession. Didn't flag retirement account beneficiary issues. Didn't consider state-specific probate rules.

Professional guidance isn't expensive.

Family warfare is.

I see this happen more than I'd like to admit. Successful people who built something real, worked hard for their families, and wanted to leave a legacy. They tried to save money in the wrong place.

Your wealth isn't just about you. It's about the generations that come after.

What's one estate planning mistake you've seen that could have been avoided?

We talk a lot about work-life balance, but proper balance isn't just a matter of hours worked vs. hours off.

It's about having the financial flexibility to make meaningful choices:
✅ Taking a career break without fear
✅ Saying “yes” to more time with family
✅ Traveling while you’re healthy and able
✅ Creating space for what really matters


Here’s the truth:
👉 Work-life balance starts with a solid financial plan. One that aligns your money with your values, and your income with your goals.

Financial planning isn’t about spreadsheets and sacrifice, but about building a life you don’t feel the need to escape from.

So if you’re working hard, but still feeling stuck, ask yourself, “Do my finances support the life I want to live, or just the one I’ve settled into?”

Read that last line again.

Let’s shift the focus from just working for money to making your money work for you.

#FinancialPlanning #MilitaryFinance #401k #EstatePlanning #ValuesBasedPlanning

Military life brings unique challenges: frequent moves, deployments, and the constant unknown. For service members and their families, estate planning isn’t optional; it’s essential.

Here’s why:
▪️ Rapid deployments may leave little time to prepare
▪️ PCS moves often impact state-specific legal documents
▪️ Family care plans are critical for dependents
▪️ Military benefits (like SGLI, TSP, pensions) must be integrated into your plan
▪️ Powers of attorney and medical directives are especially important during separation


A well-structured estate plan ensures that:
✅ Your loved ones are protected, no matter where duty calls
✅ Benefits are maximized and properly directed
✅ Your wishes are clearly documented—avoiding unnecessary stress for your family

At the heart of it, estate planning is about readiness—a concept military families know all too well.

If you're in the military community and haven’t reviewed your plan recently, now is the time. It’s one of the most meaningful ways to safeguard your family and your legacy.

#MilitaryFamilies #Veterans #FirstResponders #FederalEmployees #ServiceToOthers #EstatePlanning

With the changing of the seasons, it can lead to inward reflection on how our own lives and priorities are changing.

What are you thinking about changing up or prioritizing in your current financial plan?

Are you looking to start a business? Shore up your business' emergency funds? Save for your child's college fund? Do you have retirement concerns?

Let me know what season of life you are looking to plan for next!

Attorneys are there to handle trust creation, while CPAs manage taxes. But they often don't work together, leaving these two gears working independently.

Financial planning helps fill that gap by adding a gear, coordinating the two aspects to help optimize tax efficiency.

Let's build something together that makes an impact.

#FinancialPlanning #MilitaryFinance #401k #EstatePlanning #TaxStrategy #RetirementPlanning

When Was the Last Time You Updated Your Estate Plan?

Life doesn’t stand still, and neither should your estate plan.
Milestones like:
• A new child or grandchild
• A marriage (or divorce)
• Buying a home
• Business growth or sale
• A move to a new state
• Loss of a loved one

…all impact how your plan should be structured.

Yet too often, estate plans are treated as “set it and forget it.”

The truth? An outdated plan can cause confusion, delays, and unintended consequences when it matters most.

✅ Keep your documents current
✅ Review beneficiary designations
✅ Revisit powers of attorney
✅ Align your plan with your values and goals

An up-to-date estate plan is a gift to your loved ones—and to yourself.
If it’s been a few years (or if your life has changed recently), now is a smart time to review.

#FinancialPlanning #EstatePlanning #RetirementPlanning #ColoradoBusiness #FinancialEducation

High earners make the dumbest money mistakes.

Not because they're careless.

Because they think complexity equals sophistication.

Here's what I see wealthy clients do wrong:

1. Over-diversifying into oblivion

They own 47 mutual funds that all track the S&P 500.

Pay fees on every single one.

End up with average returns and below-average wealth.

2. Chasing the latest investment trends

Your neighbor made money in crypto, so you dump $100K in at the peak.

Tech stocks are hot, so you pile in after the run-up.

Real estate is booming, so you overpay for rental properties.

By the time you hear about it, the smart money has already moved on.

You're buying high and selling low - the exact opposite of wealth building.

3. Ignoring tax strategy completely

Making $500K but paying 37% because you never thought about tax-loss harvesting.

Or Roth conversions.

Or bunching charitable donations.

You're leaving $50K+ on the table every year.

4. Keeping too much cash "just in case"

$200K sitting in a checking account earning 0.01%.

That's not safety. That's losing $10K annually to inflation.

5. Buying the biggest house they qualify for

The bank says you can afford $2M.

But that mortgage eats 40% of your take-home.

Now you're house rich and cash poor.

Wealth isn't about earning more.

It's about keeping more.

What's the worst money mistake you've seen?

Most people think Maslow's hierarchy means:

Pay off debt first. Then save. Then invest.

But that's not how it works.

Maslow never said you complete one level before starting the next.

You don't wait until your safety is 100% secure before seeking belonging.

You don't delay all self-actualization until you've mastered esteem.

The levels overlap. They happen simultaneously.

Yet in personal finance, we treat it like a video game.

"I can't invest until my emergency fund is perfect."

"I can't think about retirement while I have student loans."

"I need to fix everything at the bottom before I touch the top."

This thinking keeps people stuck.

Here's what Maslow actually showed:

You can work on multiple levels at once.

You should work on multiple levels at once.

A person living paycheck to paycheck can still invest 50 dollars a month.

Someone with debt can still build an emergency fund.

You don't need perfection at level one to progress to level two.

The hierarchy isn't a checklist. It's a framework.

Stop waiting for the perfect foundation.

Start building across all levels now.

Your future self will thank you for not waiting.

What financial advice have you been told that kept you stuck?

Not everyone understands what it means to serve this country. And that means their blanket financial advice doesn't take into account your service to this nation.

A one-size-fits-all approach to financial planning can lead to poor financial outcomes for many people, especially military families, federal workers, and first responders.

After 18 years working in the Federal Service at the US Department of Homeland Security and the US Military, I wanted the opportunity to help those who have served our nation with pride.

I'm also a dad, so I get how important it is to plan for your family's future. Whether you want to make the most of your pension, plan for your child's college tuition, or plan for life post-service, I'm here to help educate you so you can make better-informed decisions that will strengthen your financial future.

#FinancialPlanning #MilitaryFinance #OlsonFinancial #FinancialEducation #CommunityFirst #ValuesBasedPlanning

Having life insurance is just as important as saving for retirement or putting money away in a college fund. Make the smart decision for your financial future and get life insurance! #LIAM2025

Helping Business Owners, Veterans & Law Enforcement build generational wealth | Holistic Financial Strategies | Retirement & Tax Reduction

The federal government’s shutdown has a bigger impact on retirees than just service delays.  Here’s how the shutdown can impact everything from your health to your travels.

Open article: What the Government Shutdown Means to Retirees by bit.ly

What the Government Shutdown Means to Retirees

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