Marcus V. Griffin II, CFA
My mission is to help women & the people they love navigate life's transitions.
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Serving Clients Nationwide
My mission is to help women & the people they love navigate life's transitions.
Areas of Focus
- Estate Planning
- Family and Money
- Financial Life Planning
- Inherited Wealth
- Investment Management
- Loss of Spouse or Partner
- Multi-Generational Wealth
- Retirement Planning
- Taxes
- Women & Wealth
About Marcus V. Griffin II, CFA
Marcus Griffin is a Chartered Financial Analyst with over two decades of experience helping women and their families navigate life’s most critical financial transitions: retirement, widowhood, and the journey toward financial independence.Before working directly with families, Marcus spent the early years of his career managing multi-billion-dollar institutional portfolios for Invesco and Bank of America. Seeking more meaningful work, he transitioned to a multi-family office over twenty years ago, where he discovered his calling: helping families prepare, not just financially, but emotionally, for the unexpected. He ultimately founded his own independent firm, Narrow Gate Wealth Management, built around a simple conviction that most women will outlive their spouses and face retirement on their own, and that too many aren’t truly prepared for that reality.
That conviction was forged through personal experience. Shortly after making the leap to work with families, Marcus was hospitalized with a life-threatening condition. Doctors told him he wouldn’t have survived the year had it not been caught. His wife, Tracy, the mother of their infant daughter, was close to becoming a widow. They weren’t ready. That moment reshaped how Marcus thinks about planning. Estate readiness isn’t for the dying. It’s for the living and for the people you love.
Seeking a truly fiduciary environment, Marcus chose to partner with Lifeworks Advisors to continue his mission: working alongside women and families to design clear, personalized financial plans that tie to their values and vision.
Marcus was raised in South Carolina and married in North Carolina. He and Tracy started their family in the suburbs of Atlanta before moving to Southern California in 2016. They are proud parents of two children in their twenties and an Australian Labradoodle named Roo. When he’s not helping clients, you’ll find Marcus cooking outside, leading a men’s Bible study, exploring trails in his Ford Bronco, or cheering on Liverpool Football Club, whose anthem, “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” has become the mantra for his approach to wealth management.
Professional Designations
- Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
Affiliations
- CFA Institute
Primary Location
Laguna Niguel, California
Meeting Options
- Video Conference
- In-Person
- Phone
Compensation Methods
- Fee Only
- Percentage of Assets Managed
- Subscription
What to expect in the first meeting
Click the 'Book Intro Call' button above to schedule a free introductory conversation. We'll get to know each other and I'll listen to understand your unique circumstances so we can determine the best way to proceed. I look forward to speaking with you.Offers Investment Management
Yes
About Lifeworks Advisors
At Lifeworks, we’re not just another financial advisory firm. We’ve reimagined what wealth management should be, creating an approach that puts you at the center of everything we do. Here’s just some of what sets us apart:Putting your interests first, always
As a true fiduciary, we’re legally and ethically bound to act in your best interests. But we take it a step further. We don’t accept kickbacks, commissions, or exclusivity agreements. Our only focus is serving your best interests, period. With our month-to-month memberships, we have to earn your trust every single day.
Planning that aligns your values and your money
Your financial plan should reflect who you are and what matters most to you. Our proprietary planning process helps you translate your values into a clear vision for your future, then builds a strategy to make that vision a reality. No more generic advice or arbitrary financial targets – just a plan that’s as unique as you are.
Personalized solutions, not cookie-cutter products
Your life doesn’t fit into a box, and neither should your financial plan. We craft personalized solutions that fit your unique situation, goals, and dreams. From custom investment portfolios to creative tax strategies, we look for innovative ways to help you bring your vision to life.
Simple fees, superior service
We’ve flipped the script on financial advisory fees. Our simple, transparent pricing delivers more comprehensive services than most advisors, at a fraction of their fully loaded cost. No hidden charges, no obligation to invest with us (though most clients do).* Just straightforward pricing that lets you keep more of your money working for you. It’s time your fee structure matched your financial goals: clear, efficient, and focused on your success.
Exceptional service from your financial dream team
At Lifeworks, you don’t just get an advisor—you get an entire team of experts. Our family-office style approach brings together CPA partners, insurance specialists, investment experts, and Certified Financial Planners to optimize every aspect of your financial life. We blend cutting-edge technology with a personal touch, ensuring you always have responsive, friendly support when you need it.
Smart investment strategies
Why settle for outdated investment approaches? We harness Nobel Prize-winning research to help you navigate the markets with confidence. Our innovative liability-driven planning and investment platform aligns your portfolio with your unique needs and goals, not just arbitrary benchmarks.
Education
Wake Forest University, BS, Business Administration
Volunteer Experience
► Founded & Currently Leading Men's Fellowship (weekly men's group) at Capistrano Valley Christian Schools (2018 - present)
► Discussion Facilitator - Alpha USA program - serving Marines at Camp Pendelton (2024 - present)
► Board of Trustees at Capistrano Valley Christian Schools (2019 - 2023)
► Co-Founded & Co-Led Men's Fraternity (weekly men's group) at Whitefield Academy (2012-2016)
Hobbies and Interests
- Church
- Cooking
- Family
- Grilling
- Hiking
- Movies
- Music
- Reading
- Skiing
- Soccer
SEC Lookup
View DisclosureWho We Serve
- Baby Boomers
- Couples
- Divorce
- Families
- Gen X
- Living in Retirement
- Single Women
- Widow
- Women in Transition
- Women Professionals
- Women’s Finance
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