Mike Alves has always been driven by a desire to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. His passion for financial services began at age 14, when he read What They Don’t Teach You at Harvard Business School and became fascinated by the stories of entrepreneurs turning vision into results. That early curiosity grew into a career dedicated to helping families and institutions achieve their goals.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in International Business Administration from UC Riverside in 2005, Mike began his career at Morgan Stanley and later joined Merrill Lynch, where he served as Wealth Management Advisor and Vice President. He holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation, along with Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor℠ and Chartered Life Underwriter® credentials, and earned a Master of Science in Advanced Financial Planning from Golden Gate University.
Mike is also the founder of Vida Private Wealth, where he built a reputation for thoughtful, disciplined wealth management focused on alignment and long-term growth. Inspired by the transformative potential of technology, he founded VIDA Vision Fund to back companies shaping the future of AI, robotics, and autonomous systems—investments that have the potential to redefine industries and create lasting impact. For Mike, the Fund is more than capital—it is a way to support innovation that matters while building generational legacies for investors and society.
Outside of work, Mike enjoys golf, travel, and wine, and is deeply involved in his children’s lives—coaching soccer, volunteering at school events, and fostering their curiosity and ambition.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in International Business Administration from UC Riverside in 2005, Mike began his career at Morgan Stanley and later joined Merrill Lynch, where he served as Wealth Management Advisor and Vice President. He holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation, along with Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor℠ and Chartered Life Underwriter® credentials, and earned a Master of Science in Advanced Financial Planning from Golden Gate University.
Mike is also the founder of Vida Private Wealth, where he built a reputation for thoughtful, disciplined wealth management focused on alignment and long-term growth. Inspired by the transformative potential of technology, he founded VIDA Vision Fund to back companies shaping the future of AI, robotics, and autonomous systems—investments that have the potential to redefine industries and create lasting impact. For Mike, the Fund is more than capital—it is a way to support innovation that matters while building generational legacies for investors and society.
Outside of work, Mike enjoys golf, travel, and wine, and is deeply involved in his children’s lives—coaching soccer, volunteering at school events, and fostering their curiosity and ambition.