Paul Feldman

Solving the retirement planning puzzle — With Todd Taylor

Todd Taylor, head of New York Life’s retail annuities, calls retirement the most challenging “financial planning puzzle” consumers face. Understanding consumer behavior, he says, is key to solving that puzzle.

Photo of Paul Garofoli with the title: Rethinking Estate Planning; Letters of Love." Letters of Love: Rethinking estate planning.

Letters of Love: Rethinking estate planning

Paul Garofoli, regional vice president at the Standard, discusses annuities, estate planning and using “letters from heaven,” which every agent and advisor should incorporate into their practice. 

Equity pain may be yet to come, say analysts.

Equity pain may be yet to come, Cerulli reports

“If the bond markets are a leading indicator, it may be that the pain has not yet hit equity funds, and elevated levels of selling are just around the corner,” according to Cerulli’s monthly report.

Why Health Savings Accounts may be a better retirement plan than a Roth IRA

Since Congress authorized the Roth account as a savings option in 1998, it has demonstrated the potential for massive tax benefits. A Roth account, like all IRAs and 401(k) plans, includes a tax deferral benefit – meaning that as long as money stays within the account and is not withdrawn, an investor is not obligated to pay annual taxes.

3 ways to add value to the retirement plans you serve

Managing 401(k) and other retirement plans allows you to own the entire financial relationship with your business owner clients and are a great additional revenue stream, since participants are adding money consistently with each paycheck.

3 Questions To Consider When Selecting Target Date Funds

As financial planners, we know it can sometimes be difficult to encourage individuals to save money for their future especially those in low-income minority communities. Once individuals decide to take the right steps towards saving, we’re then tasked with the more complex topic: investment choices.

Is Your Client Being Fairly Compensated? It Might Be Time To Ask

For all the emphasis and excitement over helping clients efficiently accumulate assets and accomplish their goals, it’s quite often that how the client makes a living goes into the financial plan as a “snuck premise,” a sort of status quo fact that simply underlines the cash flow projections of the financial plan.

3 Podcasts Every DEI Ally Should Follow

Being an ally and supporter of your diverse staff, colleagues and friends within our industry involves intentionality, vulnerability and the quest for lifelong learning. These three podcasts are excellent places to keep in touch with the latest DEI issues and developments.

Are You Being Too Conservative with Your CMA?

As financial planners, we must scrutinize every data point our clients provide. Are they maxing out their 401(k)? Will their estate plan be properly executed? Do they have the proper insurance? How do we project investment returns in the future given their risk appetite? The last question is arguably one of the most important questions an advisor must consider.

Business Owners Are No Longer A Client Niche For Advisors

Even prior to the onset of the pandemic two years ago, a major trend had been emerging which transcends all demographics. It is the side hustle, and the economic upheaval brought on by the pandemic has only expanded its prevalence.