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
As we save for our retirement many of us will face financial threats along the way. The money decisions we make, and how we address the financial challenges we may face, could make the difference between financial security or insecurity during our retired years. CFN’s Dennis Jablonoski and Tim Joseph, CPA, discuss several significant savings threats and share strategies for avoiding these pitfalls.
Listening Time: 24 minutes
The cybersecurity threats we face continue to increase in frequency and sophistication. The threats present significant risk to individuals, and an even more critical risk to business owners, particularly those involved in financial transactions and online commerce. Today, CFN’s Technology and Data Manager, Ryan Flurer, sits in for Steve and is joined by cybersecurity expert Anthony Mongeluzo, President of PCS, an IT and computer support services consulting company. Anthony details the myriad of threats we face and offers some practical suggestions to help reduce your online security vulnerabilities.
Listening Time: 24 minutes
This year’s summer travel season has arrived with a vengeance. After 2020’s pandemic driven stay-at-home summer, there’s pent up demand with folks clamoring to book their getaways. As travel demand surges, prices are rising. Today, CFN’s Dennis Jablonoski and Tim Joseph, CPA, discuss several unique ways to help you save money on this year’s travel plans.
Listening Time: 19 minutes
There are numerous benefits of state-sponsored 529 plans. The reality is that too many investors with the intention of helping a future student aren’t aware of the tax savings and other advantages they offer. Today, CFN’s John Walker and Tim Joseph, CPA, discuss how 529 plans have evolved over the years becoming increasingly more flexible and advantageous for the saver and the student.
Listening Time: 21 minutes
In recent weeks, many Your Life Your Wealth listeners have asked questions and expressed concerns about inflation and its impact on the future well-being of our economy and on their personal finances. Today, Steve discusses inflation and its relationship to both the post-pandemic reopening of our economy and the massive government spending legislation. He offers his perspective on the possible duration of these inflationary times and how appropriate government spending can bolster our economic future.
Listening Time: 17 minutes
The most common workplace retirement savings plan is the 401k. Aside from the value of your home, it’s likely your largest asset. A surprising number of 401k savers view this money as an accessible pre-retirement emergency fund should a costly and unexpected expenditure arise. CFN’s John Walker and Dennis Jablonoski sit in for Steve Cordasco today and discuss maintaining 401k plan integrity, and why borrowing from a 401k is usually a bad idea. They also share what business owners and 401k plan managers can do to reduce what is often called plan leakage, employee 401k loans, withdrawals, or cash-outs.
Listening Time: 20 minutes
Most couples look forward to their retired years together. But, what happens if you and your partner have different views of what life in retirement should actually be? What if you disagree on finances, family or living arrangements? Steve discusses strategies to help the nearly 50% of couples who admit experiencing conflict and making mistakes relating to money when planning for, or living in, retirement.
Listening Time: 26 minutes
If you consumed any news this past week, the word most frequently heard or read was "inflation." The media’s near-obsession stemmed from the release of higher than expected Consumer Price Index figures. We don’t like seeing those higher numbers, and for some they stoke fears of run-away inflation as happened in decades past. Today, CFN’s John Walker welcomes Joe Cortese, senior consultant at Fiducient (formerly known as DiMeo Schneider) and member of the CFN Investment Team. Joe provides important context to what we’re seeing in the market and outlines an appropriate course of action to take.
Listening Time: 21 minutes
Ian Comisky, partner in the law firm of Fox Rothschild, author and law professor at the University of Pennsylvania joins today’s podcast. Ian is with us each year at this time to discuss new tax law, forthcoming federal regulations and IRS enforcement.
Listening Time: 21 minutes
Among the effects of the pandemic are adjustments many of us are experiencing at work. As workforce needs change, some employers are finding it necessary to reduce staff and are offering early exit packages to employees nearing retirement age. Cordasco Financial Network CPA’s Tim Joseph and Jim Tate co-host today’s podcast and discuss the many important financial and tax considerations necessary to properly evaluate an early retirement offer.
Listening Time: 15 minutes
As the federal government looks for ways to increase revenue, estate tax laws will soon change. Senator Bernie Sanders has formally proposed a bill, supported by President Biden, called “For The 99.5% Act.” The changes will significantly increase the amount of tax due, based on the value of your estate. Today, Steve presents a call-to-action. He discusses the proposal and several planning moves you should consider prior to the new tax laws taking effect.
Listening Time: 22 minutes
New Jersey recently enacted legislation that requires business owners, who do not offer employees a qualified retirement plan and who have 25 or more employees, to automatically enroll those employees in the New Jersey Secure Choice Savings Program. New Jersey is one of ten states to enact the legislation, more are sure to follow. Steve is joined by Retirement Plan Specialist, Dennis Jablonoski, CRPS, to discuss the merits of this mandatory program and some deficiencies both employers and employees may realize once these plans are operational.
Listening Time: 22 mins
If you’re a business owner or employee, changes in the labor and job market will continue to have a direct impact on your financial wellbeing. Steve is joined by Rick Grimaldi, author of FLEX: A Leader's Guide to Staying Nimble and Mastering Transformative Change in the American Workplace. Rick is an attorney and partner with the firm Fisher Phillips, a management side labor and employment law firm. Topics discussed include the growing gig economy, the minimum wage debate, how and why the latest trends in the labor market are closely tied to the economy, and more.
Listening Time: 31 minutes
It’s the surest sign that spring has arrived, baseball season is here. Cordasco Financial Network’s John Walker and Dennis Jablonoski team up for a winning podcast teaching us the many financial lessons that can be learned from the game of baseball. From the risk reward comparison, to knowing that you don’t always come away with a win, to understanding that there’s always another day to play, there is much to learn from America’s greatest pastime.
Listening Time: 24 minutes
We invest to grow the money we’ve earned and secure our future. For some however, it now goes beyond that. There are investors who not only want to increase their wealth, but want to know that the companies they invest in will have a positive social impact and are aligned with the causes they support. Today, Steve discusses all sides of the growing trend of impact investing including performance when compared to a more traditional approach, and whether or not direct contributions to a cause may have a greater impact.
Listening Time: 20 minutes
As a record amount of stimulus money enters our economy, concerns about inflation rise. CFN's Founder and CEO Steve Cordasco presents this special in-depth discussion on ways inflation can affect your life and wealth. He discusses the root causes of inflation, how it can impact the future of your cash, bond and equity holdings, and details important defensive actions smart investors should consider if inflation worries persist.
Listening Time: 29 minutes
The April 15, 2021, tax deadline is only a month away and the recently passed stimulus package contains federal legislation that may impact your 2020 tax return. Cordasco Financial Network CPA Tim Joseph joins Steve to discuss why you may want to consider delaying your tax filing this year, and the importance of putting a strategic tax plan into action with professional help beyond your tax preparer.
Listening Time: 28 minutes
Cordasco Financial Network’s Director of Business Development John Walker sits in for Steve today and is joined by CFN Relationship Manager and Financial Advisor Desiree Reil. In commemorating International Women’s Day this week, they discuss the unique investing and retirement challenges faced by women and cover strategies to help female investors overcome some of the often significant disadvantages they encounter.
Listening Time: 17 minutes
401k plans are the focus of today’s podcast. Steve is joined by Cordasco Financial Network Retirement Plan Specialist Dennis Jablonoski. They offer insight and guidance for employees who participate in a 401k plan and for business owners or managers responsible for overseeing their company’s plan. They discuss contribution limits, permissible catch-up contributions, the value of an employer match, consumer protections, new 401k rules for 2021 and more.
Listening Time: 30 minutes
The price of bitcoin has surged 350% in just the last six months as major investors and large companies have begun to adopt its use. Average investors have taken notice and see it as a potential opportunity. Today we discuss bitcoin, one specific form of cryptocurrency, grabbing the headlines. Steve is joined by Cordasco Financial Network’s Client Service Specialist Evan Salter and Steve Proffer, a member of CFN’s Investment Committee. Evan helps us understand what bitcoin actually is, how the technology works and why its been so readily embraced by younger investors. Steve Proffer offers perspective on bitcoin’s appropriateness for inclusion in an investor’s long-term portfolio as well as what may be driving large companies to accept bitcoin as currency.
Listening Time: 26 minutes