CFN’s Retirement Plan Specialist Dennis Jablonoski, CRPS® talks with Tim Joseph CFP® and CPA. Tim explains how various forms of retirement income are taxed and the planning necessary to meet those obligations.
Listening Time: 19 minutes
The Federal Reserve recently announced it will take action to reduce inflation. The Fed has indicated it will end its asset buying program and also plans on making three interest rate hikes in 2022. Cordasco Financial Network’s John Walker is joined by Larry Shaw and Dennis Jablonoski of the CFN Investment Committee to discuss the potential impact the Fed’s latest announcement may have on your investment planning in the coming year.
Listening Time: 22 minutes
It’s Cordasco Financial Network’s 10th anniversary. Steve Cordasco is joined by Jim Tate for this Special Edition podcast. They share exciting news about new opportunities and discuss the growth and future of the firm.
Listening Time: 15 minutes
A sizable Social Security cost of living adjustment takes effect in 2022. For most recipients however, that increase will be offset, and in some cases exceeded by, an increase in Medicare premiums. CFN’s John Walker and Tim Joseph, CFP, CPA, detail the reasons for the current steep increase in Medicare costs. They also discuss what you can do to reduce your annual taxable income to help ensure that you are paying the smallest possible amount in Medicare premiums.
Listening Time: 19 minutes
The holiday season is officially here. It’s a time when many of us gather with family to celebrate. Talking about money over turkey may be less stressful than getting into politics or social issues. Whether it’s about gratitude or charitable giving, safe money discussions are a natural way to avoid indigestion. CFN’s Dennis Jablonoski and Jim Tate, CPA, talk about safe money discussions you can have around your holiday table, conversations you won’t regret!
Listening Time: 20 minutes
Questions about cryptocurrency are among the most common we receive. We’re frequently asked to explain what it is, how it works, how to buy it, how to use it, and should I own cryptocurrency in my retirement or investment portfolio? Today, CFN’s John Walker and Evan Salter shed some light on the risky, complicated world of cryptocurrency, to help you determine whether or not you should own cryptocurrency.
Listening Time: 20 minutes
Inflation is a growing concern. American’s are experiencing price increases at a rate not seen in over 30 years. Steve discusses the reasons for current inflationary conditions and its impact on wage earners and retirees. He details action steps to help ease the pain of rising prices and effective tools used at CFN to more accurately project inflation’s future impact on your Life & Wealth.
Listening Time: 23 minutes
For many retirees, spending money on life’s pleasures is often a source of guilt. The guilt may be motivated by a fear of running out of money, or even a perception they are cheating their heirs out of an inheritance. As we head into the holiday season, guilt-free spending is our theme for November. Steve shares retirement planning strategies to help you better enjoy your retirement with guilt-free spending.
Listening Time: 20 minutes
It’s clear that when putting together a successful retirement plan, managing wealth is only one component. A successful plan includes discovering what you intend to spend your money on, how you will maintain your social network, and ideas for investing in personal relationships. After years of researching the key to real retirement happiness, Michael Finke, of the American College of Financial Services, discusses his important findings in this podcast from the Your Life Your Wealth archives. The result of this conversation reinforces the fact that real retirement happiness cannot be found exclusively through money or wealth.
Listening Time: 25 minutes
We continue our October theme of charitable giving by exploring the scientifically documented mental and physical benefits of helping others. CFN’s John Walker welcomes Stephen Post, PhD Professor, Founding Director of The Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care and Bioethics at Stony Brook University. Dr. Post is the author of several books including “Why Good Things Happen to Good People: How to Live a Longer, Healthier, Happier Life by the Simple Act of Giving.” He explains how you can enjoy the mental and physical benefits of helping others as much or more than helping yourself.
Listening Time: 26 minutes
The Social Security Administration announced a 5.9% increase in benefits for 2022. For many Americans in retirement, Social Security is a key part of their retirement income. Steve Cordasco is joined by CFN’s Jim Tate, CPA, to discuss key strategies for maximizing your social security benefits. Be sure you understand these strategies for maximizing your Social Security benefits to help you make the most of this income stream that will last through your retired years.
Listening Time: 21 minutes
Uniform Transfers to Minors Act allows gift givers to transfer money, real estate or fine art to minors without the need for a guardian or trustee. UTMAs, a tax efficient gifting option, are an inexpensive way to give minors a financial leg-up, but there are limitations and cautionary notes you need to consider. CFN’s John Walker is joined by Kathy Mandelbaum, Associate Professor of Law at Temple University. They discuss this tax efficient gifting option and detail the pros and cons you need to know.
Listening Time: 27 minutes
Helping others by giving to charity has a positive impact on the recipient, and also offers the donor many benefits. We get personal satisfaction by helping those less fortunate, while at the same time we can benefit from the tax advantages of charitable giving. CFN’s John Walker and Tim Joseph, CPA, discuss a variety of strategies that can help your donations go further for the causes you support, and present a win-win by helping you benefit from the tax advantages of charitable giving.
Listening Time: 20 minutes
Economic conditions in China and investing in emerging markets are among the issues discussed as Steve is joined by internationally known investor and commentator Jim Rogers. Also well known for his media appearances, Jim Rogers was the co-founder of the Quantum Fund, Soros Fund Management and the Rogers International Commodities Index. He’s a close observer of economic conditions in China, and joins Steve from his home in Singapore.
Listening Time: 16 minutes
Steve discusses inflation, the markets, demographics and the new tax proposals. We also hear insightful comments from Cathie Wood, founder and CEO of the investment management firm Ark Invest, made at this week’s global leadership SALT Conference in New York. Additionally, Steve offers his perspective on the views expressed by Cathie Wood, inflation, the markets, demographics and the new tax proposals that are among the most significant issues currently on the minds of investors and retirees.
Listening Time: 25 minutes
It’s been 20 years since America was attacked in a way none of us could have ever imagined. September 11, 2001, the day four hijacked passenger planes crashed into the towers of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and an open field in Shanksville, PA, was a day that changed our world. Memories of 9/11 can never be forgotten. We all remember where we were and how we felt the moment we heard the news. In this special edition podcast, Steve Cordasco, and several members of the CFN team, share their personal memories of 9/11.
Listening Time: 35 minutes
When it comes to your kids, is it smarter to pay for college or fund your retirement? The cost of higher education continues to rise at a staggering rate. It places college out of reach for some families and may cause parents to take on an inordinate amount of debt. Recent statistics show that a large percentage of parents contemplating retirement are delaying those plans in order to pay the college tuition or debt of their children. Today, CFN’s John Walker and Dennis Jablonoski welcome Neetu Arnold, a researcher at the National Association of Scholars who’s authored a study looking into how much we’re paying for college and where all that money goes. The choice to pay for college or fund your retirement is not an easy one. However, John and Dennis outline strategies to help you cope with the high cost of higher education as you face the prospect of saving for your own retirement.
Listening Time: 27 minutes
A Roth IRA conversion offers certain tax advantages if you expect your future tax rate to be higher at the time you plan to withdraw money from your retirement accounts. A Roth IRA allows for tax-free withdrawals of qualified distributions, but there are pitfalls you need to know. CFN’s John Walker and Tim Joseph, CPA, discuss the ins and outs of Roth conversions and help you determine if you’re a good candidate for this retirement planning strategy.
Listening Time: 22 minutes
The work of the Investment Committee at Cordasco Financial Network is an integral part of the retirement planning process. The committee’s efforts, which take place on a daily basis, are a key component of portfolio construction at CFN. Investment Committee members Dennis Jablonoski and Larry Shaw join today’s host Ryan Flurer for a peek behind the scenes in creating a well-diversified portfolio. They also address emerging market concerns involving investments in China.
Listening Time: 23 minutes
Tolerance of market volatility is quite different than tolerance of risk, however investors often confuse them. CFN’s John Walker and Dennis Jablonoski clearly define each, and help us understand why we need to know the difference. They also discuss the importance of knowing the level of risk you are willing to tolerate as compared to the level of risk your portfolio can withstand in order to meet your objectives.
Listening Time: 22 minutes
Recently, factors like inflation, the Delta variant, and low interest rates have been weighing on people’s minds. To address this, I hosted institutional money manager and member of our investment team, Joe Cortese, to shed light on the investment implications of the aforementioned market risks.
Listening Time: 54 minutes
Defined Benefit Plans for small business owners represent the largest yearly retirement plan contribution option available, and likely present a significant tax savings opportunity. Steve Cordasco and CFN’s Tim Joseph, CPA, discuss Defined Benefit Plans with guest Philip Pirio, Senior Design Consultant with Dedicated Defined Benefit Services. They discuss important details of Defined Benefit Plans and the roles financial planners, CPAs, and plan administrators have in designing and implementing this often overlooked retirement plan option for small business owners.
Listening Time: 30 minutes
Unfortunately, people in retirement often miss tax-savings opportunities that are readily available. Retirees like you need to pay close attention to your tax situation because the money you’ve saved must last the rest of your life. Missing out on important tax-saving strategies can take a bite out of your nest egg and negatively impact your quality of life during your retirement years. To provide help, CFN’s John Walker and Tim Joseph, CPA, discuss the most overlooked tax breaks for retirees.
Listening Time: 24 minutes
Sometimes the most uncomfortable conversations are the ones most necessary. Today, as we reach a milestone, the 300th episode of the Your Life Your Wealth podcast, CFN’s John Walker and Ryan Flurer discuss the important issue of paying for long term care. There’s a more than 8 in 10 chance you or a loved one will experience late life cognitive or physical decline that will require support from a caregiver other than a family member. John and Ryan discuss the high cost of long term care and what insurance options exist to help offset what could be a financially draining expense.
Listening Time: 23 minutes
Retirees should consider focusing on generating cash flow instead of chasing ever-shrinking income sources in today’s low interest rate environment. CFN’s John Walker and Jim Tate, CPA, discuss the differences in managing income versus cash flow. A good cash flow strategy includes social security, annuity payments, dividends and other sources to cover living expenses for those in retirement. John and Jim offer practical cash flow planning tips, including tax related information that should not be overlooked.
Listening Time: 25 minutes