Category: Medicare
Holding More Stocks and Less Bonds: Commentary from our Expert Investment Team (Ep. 24)

Holding More Stocks and Less Bonds: Commentary from our Expert Investment Team (Ep. 24)

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How do elections and rate changes affect your investment portfolio?

Join Michelle for an engaging conversation with John Archbold and James Yahoudy, two members of the expert investment team supporting Gessner Wealth Strategies called Aptus Capital Advisors. Together, they explore the dynamic world of investments, unpacking Aptus’ unique investment philosophy and the potential impact of recent events, like elections, on your portfolio. With decades of experience, John and James share actionable insights and proven strategies to help you navigate market changes with confidence.

Key conversations include:

  • Understanding the historical market performance trends during election cycles and their impact
  • Why owning more stocks might be crucial in an inflationary environment
  • How put options can act like insurance for your investments
  • How recent regulatory changes have made advanced investment strategies more accessible to the average investor

Resources:

Connect with Michelle Gessner: 

About John Archbold:

John Archbold is responsible for ongoing advisor and client support and education. He is passionate about ensuring that the advisor and client experience at Aptus is of the highest quality and prioritizes improving financial outcomes for clients.

John spent previous years working with high-net-worth investors and their advisors, most recently at Brinker Capital. Before that, he spent several years working in the private credit and private equity arena at FS Investments. Earlier in his career, John was a financial advisor and a Regional Marketing Director for the Hartford Funds.

John holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation from the CFA®Institute and is a member of the CFA® Society of Philadelphia and the CFA® Institute.  He received his undergraduate degree in Political Science at Syracuse University. John holds the Series, 7, 24, and 63 licenses.

John lives with his family in Haddonfield, New Jersey. John and his wife, Emily, share a passion for food and wine and even got their Sommelier certifications. His son Charlie and dog Hilde keep him on his toes and on the move as much as possible. It was Charlie who at the age of three became enamored with golf and finally roped his father into the game at age forty. Other hobbies include an obsession with history, trying to become a better chess player, and still playing any and all sports in his middle age.

About James Yahoudy:

James Yahoudy’s primary focus is supporting advisors with all things to enhance the client experience. Whether the support is directly from the Aptus suite of services or a technology change outside of what we do –he is ready to roll up his sleeves to support.

James has worked as an advisor and closely with advisors since 2010. He most recently came from TD Ameritrade Institutional working with RIAs in a variety of practice management areas and assisting breakaway brokers in the process of going independent.

James is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and graduated from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance. He completed his certificate program in Financial Planning from Southern Methodist University.

James lives in the Dallas area with his wife, Courtney, and son, Avett. He enjoys anything related to music, sports, and travel. His most recent trip may hit theatres soon entitled, Two dogs and a toddler drive 3000 miles.
How Are My Social Security Benefits Taxed? (Ep. 23)

How Are My Social Security Benefits Taxed? (Ep. 23)

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How much of your Social Security Benefits do you keep after taxes? How can you better plan your taxes to reduce the amount taken from your Social Security during retirement?

In this episode, Michelle Gessner, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, dives into the nuances of how your Social Security benefits are taxed. She unravels the complexities and explores strategies so you can potentially reduce those taxes. 

From understanding provisional income to leveraging Roth IRAs, Michelle sheds light on critical steps that could impact your financial future.

Michelle discusses: 

  • The intricacies of how Social Security benefits are taxed so that you can potentially reduce your taxes 
  • The role of provisional income and its impact 
  • Benefits of Roth IRAs in tax planning 
  • Potential savings on Social Security taxes through Roth conversions
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Michelle Gessner: 

About Michelle Gessner: 

As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, Michelle is passionate about building a life plan for her clients and helping them see that they have choices, which often comes to them as a pleasant surprise. She is an independent thinker and a huge advocate for her clients’ interests. Her greatest joy is working to do what is right for them and be their voice.

Michelle has a B.S. in Finance from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and an M.S. in Management from Boston University, Brussels. Growing up in Montana and moving to Colorado for college, she took out student loans and worked her way through all four years. After graduating in 1987 with honors, she accepted a job at Shell Oil in Houston and worked her way up the corporate ladder to a management position before leaving in 1992 for Brussels, Belgium, where she lived for 4 years. In Brussels, she learned about different cultures and basic conversational French as well as pursuing and earning a graduate degree in management. 

As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional,  she is held to the highest standards set forth in the industry. She surrounds herself with a back office of experts in tax and investment research so that her clients have the best of both worlds – the resources of a large firm with the caring, dedication, and personal service of a small firm. 
Important Tax Mistakes to Avoid {That CPAs Wish You Knew} (Ep.22)

Important Tax Mistakes to Avoid {That CPAs Wish You Knew} (Ep.22)

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In this episode, Michelle Gessner sits down with Madison Ross, co-founder of Ross & Connor LLP, a CPA firm based in Fort Worth, Texas. Together, they dive into why proactive tax planning and working with professionals is essential to avoid costly mistakes and optimize tax strategies.

Madison, an expert in small business, real estate, and individual taxation, shares common tax pitfalls to avoid, including the main problem with gifting property during your lifetime to loved ones, why titling real estate to an S-corporation may not be a good idea for business owners, tax essentials for cryptocurrency owners and navigating Roth conversions. Michelle and Madison also explain how avoiding unintended consequences like Medicare surcharges and leveraging the right software can make tax planning more efficient and effective.

Take note as Michelle and Madison cover: 

  • Gifting property during one’s lifetime may lead to high tax liabilities due to the loss of a step-up in basis
  • Roth conversions require careful planning to avoid higher tax brackets and unintended consequences 
  • Risks of using an S-Corp for real estate for business owners Consulting  professionals can help prevent costly tax mistakes
  • And more

Connect with Madison Ross:

Connect with Michelle: 

About Our Guest: 

Madison Ross is a Tax Partner and co-founder of Ross and Connor LLP. His focus is on Small Business, Real Estate, and Individual taxation. The firm incorporates tax planning strategies, which provide clients with a roadmap for tax savings and wealth building. Madison is a member of the Main Street Business Certified Tax Advisory Network, which consists of hundreds of CPAs, Enrolled Agents, and Lawyers from across the country who meet weekly to discuss up-to-date tax strategies. He received a certification in Cryptocurrency Taxation from Main Street Business in 2022. Madison is licensed as a CPA in Texas and New Mexico and is a member of the AICPA.

About Michelle Gessner: 

As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, Michelle is passionate about building a life plan for her clients and helping them see that they have choices, which often comes to them as a pleasant surprise. She is an independent thinker and a huge advocate of her clients’ interests. Her greatest joy is working to do what is right for them and be their voice.

Michelle has a B.S. in Finance from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and an M.S. in Management from Boston University, Brussels. Growing up in Montana and moving to Colorado for college, she took out student loans and worked her way through all four years. After graduating in 1987 with honors, she accepted a job at Shell Oil in Houston, and worked her way up the corporate ladder to a management position before leaving in 1992 for Brussels, Belgium, where she lived for 4 years. In Brussels, she learned about different cultures and basic conversational French as well as pursuing and earning a graduate degree in management. 

As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional,  she is held to the highest standards set forth in the industry. She surrounds herself with a back office of experts in tax and investment research so that her clients have the best of both worlds – the resources of a large firm with the caring, dedication, and personal service of a small firm.
Long-Term Disability Insurance: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You (Ep.18)

Long-Term Disability Insurance: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You (Ep.18)

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Are you undervaluing the importance of long-term disability insurance in your financial plan?

This episode reveals the common myths and misunderstandings that could cost you and your loved ones dearly. Michelle dives into why even retirees need to grasp the nuances of disability insurance policies and how overlooking the benefits could expose gaps in your financial safety net.

Discussion points include:

  • How misconceptions around long-term disability insurance often lead to inadequate coverage
  • Understanding the fine print of your policy, including the monthly cap on benefits
  • How locking in coverage when you’re young and healthy helps ensure lower premiums and protection against future health issues.
  • The leading causes of long-term disability claims
  • And more

Connect with Michelle: 

About Michelle Gessner: 

As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, Michelle is passionate about building a life plan for her clients and helping them see that they have choices, which often comes to them as a pleasant surprise. She is an independent thinker and a huge advocate of her clients’ interests. Her greatest joy is working to do what is right for them and be their voice.

Michelle has a B.S. in Finance from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and an M.S. in Management from Boston University, Brussels. Growing up in Montana and moving to Colorado for college, she took out student loans and worked her way through all four years. After graduating in 1987 with honors, she accepted a job at Shell Oil in Houston, and worked her way up the corporate ladder to a management position before leaving in 1992 for Brussels, Belgium, where she lived for 4 years. In Brussels, she learned about different cultures and basic conversational French as well as pursuing and earning a graduate degree in management. 

As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional,  she is held to the highest standards set forth in the industry. She surrounds herself with a back office of experts in tax and investment research so that her clients have the best of both worlds – the resources of a large firm with the caring, dedication, and personal service of a small firm. 

FEATURE
Medicare: A Comprehensive Guide with Joanne Giardini Russell (Ep.15)

Medicare: A Comprehensive Guide with Joanne Giardini Russell (Ep.15)

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After the successful release of “Understanding Medicare: A Guide for Beginners,” Michelle was prompted to ask Joanne Giardini Russell back to the show to provide a deeper look into Medicare.

Let’s gain further knowledge about how to make informed decisions regarding your healthcare and insurance options as Michelle and Joanne discuss: 

  • Recommendations to prepare for Medicare six months before eligibility 
  • Seek professional guidance to avoid common enrollment mistakes
  • The importance of annually reviewing your drug plans
  • Growing concerns surrounding predatory marketing/scams 
  • The Inflation Reduction Act and its impact on pharmaceuticals 
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Michelle Gessner: 

Connect with Joanne Giardini Russell:

About Joanne Giardini-Russell:

Joanne Giardini-Russell is the owner of Giardini Medicare, an independent agency that provides Medicare products to the public. She and her team of Medicare nerds at Giardini Medicare specialize in the “transition” to the Medicare system. Do you need Medicare? If so, how do you get there in a stress-free and logical fashion? Having spent years in the financial and insurance industries, Joanne recognized an enormous and unfilled niche. Namely, the lack of quality education and assistance in “best practices” in getting yourself into the Medicare system.

She and her team of agents have grown a firm that can help assess the “Do I need Medicare,  how do I get it, how does it work” questions and more. They assist in the transition from the workplace era and into the Medicare years and enroll people in the proper Medicare products. 

Joanne routinely leads Medicare sessions for financial advisors, CPAs, Credit Unions, and the public. Additionally, she often writes Medicare content for publications and websites such as  Advisor Perspectives, SixtyandMe.com, and InsuranceNews.Net. She and Cameron Giardini produce the “Transition to Medicare” Podcast. , He produces the company’s YouTube channel while she handles TikTok. The company website is https://gmedicareteam.com/ 

Joanne resides in Michigan with her husband, Jeff. Three of her adult children work with her at Giardini Medicare; creating what they affectionately refer to as the “First Family of Medicare”.