The habits we adopt in our lives, the things we do every day, are often indicative of the amount of personal and professional success we enjoy. CFN’s John Walker and Dennis Jablonoski discuss the habits of successful people and how good habits in various aspects of life can often translate into financial success.

Program Length: 24 minutes

As legislation resulting in the largest change to the retirement system in more than a decade becomes law, CFN’s John Walker and CPA Tim Joseph discuss the impact. They detail new rules regarding 401(k) offerings, required minimum distributions, age contribution limits, the stretch IRA, and more.

Program Length: 16 minutes

Now is the time to consider several last-minute tips that may benefit you for tax year 2019.  John Walker and Cordasco Financial Network CPA Tim Joseph discuss several moves that may reduce your tax burden for this year.

Program Length: 26 minutes

CFN’s John Walker and Dennis Jablonoski take a look at recent equity market performances and talk about how the growth in equities has likely moved your investment portfolio out of balance. They discuss several rebalancing strategies you need to consider to ensure that your portfolio accurately reflects your investment goals and your comfort level with the amount of risk you are taking with your investments.

Program Length: 19 minutes

The thought of having or maintaining debt often conjures up an image of financial trouble, but consider this, there’s good debt and there’s bad debt. CFN’s John Walker explains the differences and how each can impact your financial wellbeing.

Program Length:12 minutes

Cybersecurity and protecting ourselves from online fraud is the focus as CFN’s John Walker welcomes Anthony Mongeluzo, President of Philadelphia area based cybersecurity firm PCS. Anthony tells some amazing stories of cybersecurity breaches in business and personal matters that illustrate just how vulnerable we actually are. Later in the podcast, John welcomes Evan Salter, CFN’s client services specialist, and victim of identity theft. Evan shares lessons learned and some important tips to help keep all of us safe in cyberspace especially during the upcoming holiday season.  

Program Length: 27 mins

As the markets continue to reach new heights, CFN’s John Walker and Dennis Jablonoski take a historical look at the markets, talk about current market conditions and discuss the prudent approach long term investors should consider as the markets continue to rise.  

Program Length: 19 minutes

One of the most often talked about issues for people heading toward retirement is social security. It seems that everyone has questions.  It’s also a topic around which many misconceptions persist. To provide clarity around this important part of your retirement planning, CFN’s John Walker welcomes veteran Social Security Administration official and long-time syndicated columnist Tom Marginau. Tom writes exclusively on the subject of social security, has written a series of articles on social security myths. Later in the presentation, CFN’s Tim Joseph, CPA, stops by to discuss the benefits of working with financial planning professionals in determining the best course of action for you when dealing with your individual social security planning.

Program Length:  31 minutes

Keeping up with others in our social circles is among the top concerns of affluent investors. Whether it’s through social media or direct contact, we’re constantly exposed to things that others flaunt such as fabulous vacations, expensive new cars or picture perfect family gatherings. When we assess our own lives, it’s easy to understand how feelings of inadequacy manifest.  John Walker explores the financial impact of trying to “keep up with the Joneses.”  He’s joined by psychology professor Mary Pritchard from Boise State University, who has studied the emotional impact of comparing your wealth or success to others.

Program Length: 22 minutes

For most of us, as we head toward the busy holiday season our attention is on family and friends, and the time we’ll spend with those closest to us. There are however, many other important things to consider at this time including an assessment of our charitable giving for the year.  CFN’s John Walker is joined by Dien Yuen, Assistant Professor of Philanthropy at the American College of Financial Services, an expert on charitable giving for families and charitable institutions. They discuss ways you can help others through donations designed to efficiently fit into your financial and tax planning strategies for the year. These include the benefits of appreciated stock donations, donation bunching, required minimum distribution donations, donor advised chartable funds and more.

Program Length: 28 minutes

In the news this week, several brokerage firms have started offering free online trading for U.S. stocks and exchange traded funds.  That’s terrific, right?  Not so fast! CFN’s John Walker and Dennis Jablonoski discuss what you should think about before even considering any perceived benefits of free online trading. John and Dennis share many cautionary notes including the importance of recognizing the vast differences between executing a solid investment or retirement planning strategy, and being an online stock trader.  Free online trading may cause you to make more impulsive financial moves, and also can  have tax consequences you may not have considered.    

Program Length: 14 minutes

Running out of money is the number one fear for people in, or approaching, retirement. Many variables lie ahead including inflation, the high cost of health care, higher taxes, and unpredictable markets. For some, an overly cautious approach to spending can lead to an outright fear of spending, causing people to deprive themselves instead of truly enjoying their golden years. Cordasco Financial Network’s John Walker and Tim Joseph, CPA, discuss strategies for overcoming spending anxiety. 

Program Length: 19 minutes

This One-Size-Fits-All Investment Could be Putting Your 401(k) at Risk

John Walker, Larry Shaw and Dennis Jablonoski of the Cordasco Financial Network team gather for a discussion on the pros and cons of target date funds. In these popular funds the level of risk is gradually adjusted to coordinate with a specific event date such as retirement.  Find out why this easy, set-it and forget-it investment may be far from the best option for investors.

Program Length: 15 minutes

You’ll hear a personal, first-hand story on why it’s absolutely essential to plan for the unexpected. An unforeseen event could happen regarding your finances, your health, your family, just about anything. Things we can’t control are the most difficult to navigate, but they can be overcome if you have a plan.

Program Length: 39 minutes

When the kids are grown and have left the family home, many parents experience "empty nest syndrome.”  It’s a “condition” with both emotional and financial symptoms. John Walker of the Cordasco Financial Network team hosts and is joined by CFN advisor and financial planning specialist Dennis Jablonoski. They discuss the challenges that may arise when a couple, no longer immersed in the efforts of raising children, suddenly find themselves in what may seem like a totally new relationship. Plus, they detail newfound financial opportunities that arise at this stage of life that can be used by couples to reduce expenses and shore up their retirement planning.

Program Length: 18 minutes

Your rising costs for healthcare could bankrupt your retirement plan.  Cordasco Financial Network’s John Walker sits in for me and is joined by CPA Jim Tate, a member of the CFN team. They discuss solutions that will help you prepare for the increasing cost of healthcare.   

Program Length: 16 minutes

Cordasco Financial Network’s Business Development Director John Walker sits in. Like nearly all decisions you make based purely on emotions, the outcome is often not what you’d want or expect.  As the saying goes “cooler heads prevail.”  Most decisions, including those all-important financial and retirement decisions, are best made by pushing aside your emotions and relying on the facts, past history, and sometimes gut instinct. John discusses four specific types of emotional financial decisions and beneficial ways to help you adjust your approach. 

Program Length: 15 minutes

Cordasco Financial Network’s Business Development Director John Walker sits in, along with CFN Financial Advisor and CPA Tim Joseph.  They take an adventurous dive into the most common mistakes you can make while planning for, or living through, your retirement years. John and Tim offer practical advice to help you recognize and rectify these common errors.

Program Length: 30 minutes

Your gradual retirement can benefit you and your employer. If you retire abruptly from full-time work, the transition can be a shock to your system, and to those around you, particularly your spouse.  At a time when a massive number of baby boomers are reaching retirement age, many employers are concerned about finding enough skilled workers to fill their shoes.  Cordasco Financial Network’s John Walker sits for me and is joined by CFN's Brian Hillsberg to discuss the concept of easing into retirement by making a gradual transition. They discuss some of the perceived obstacles and detail the many benefits realized by employees and employers when a long-time employee enters retirement in phases.  They also share a recent case study where together they helped facilitate a slow transition to retirement with excellent results.

Program Length: 22 minutes

Program Length:20 minutes

This week, I go back to the Your Life Your Wealth archives for a discussion on how you can deal with uncertainty and avoid making emotional decisions. I talk with former poker champ turned business consultant Annie Duke, author of “Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don’t Have All The Facts.” Learn best practices for poker players and investors.

Program Length: 31 minutes

The IRS tax code, as it stands today, won’t survive.  Some recent changes will either expire in 2026 or, if the political winds in Washington shift, perhaps sooner. Taxes are one of the biggest expenses you’ll face in retirement. Proper tax planning is imperative.  In this episode, I detail four important strategies for Roth IRA conversions you can use today that will help you save on taxes in the years ahead. 

Program Length: 33 minutes