Mike Alvez

Managing Director and Founder, Vida Private Wealth
MSAFP, CFP®, CLU®, CRPC®

Mike Alves’s love for the financial services industry can be traced back to when he was a 14-year-old scholar in a seminary when he read “What they don’t teach you at Harvard Business School” by the legendary entrepreneur and business author Mark McCormack. 

Eager to learn more, Mike started reading more stories and case studies where McCormack helped his clients achieve success and happiness. Mike felt a growing need to make a difference in other people’s lives, which ultimately lead to founding Vida Private Wealth.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in international business administration from the University of California-Riverside in 2005, Mike accepted an offer to work with Morgan Stanley. A year later, he was recruited by Merrill Lynch, where he worked as a Wealth Management Advisor and Vice-President for Wealth Management until 2018.

In 2010, Mike attained the prestigious CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification, which one of the most respected financial planning credentials among consumers and the recognized standard of excellence in personal financial planning. He also holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor℠ and Chartered Life Underwriter® designations. 

Mike gravitated towards a career in Financial Life Planning, and in 2020 he graduated with a Master of Science degree in Advanced Financial Planning from Golden Gate University. He is a member of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society and Golden Key National Honor Society.

With a focus on giving back to his community, Mike is an ardent supporter of non-profits and charities, such as the Corazon de Vida Foundation, UCR Alumni Association. He has served on the advisory boards of the Latino Medical Student Association, the Latino Physician Advisory Board of the Los Angeles County Medical Association (LACMA), the LA Children’s Hospital corporate committee and the California Hispanic Corporate Council Leadership Institute.

In his free time, Mike enjoys golfing, traveling, reading, and wine tasting. He’s also very involved with his kids’ activities, which include soccer coaching, cub scouts, and school volunteering.