Tag: Certified Financial Planner
Discovering Your Purpose in Retirement – Planning for Happiness in the Next Chapter of Your Life with Sue Mintz (Ep.17)

Discovering Your Purpose in Retirement – Planning for Happiness in the Next Chapter of Your Life with Sue Mintz (Ep.17)

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While it’s widely acknowledged that retirement involves careful financial planning, its essence extends far beyond mere numbers – a facet often overlooked. 

Today, Sue Mintz, a certified retirement transition coach, unravels the intricacies of crafting a comprehensive retirement strategy that embraces the full spectrum of considerations. Sue highlights that retirement should be viewed as a process, not just an event, with different phases like the “honeymoon,” “messy middle,” and “new normal”. She emphasizes the need for a holistic retirement plan, focusing on mental and physical health, time management, and financial stability. 

Tune in to gain insight into common misconceptions about retirement as well as:

  • Addressing non-financial aspects of retirement like social connections, purpose, and structure
  • The concept of “unretiring” due to increased life expectancy and evolving priorities
  • How to redefine your retirement based on your preferences and goals
  • The value of retirement transition coaching
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Michelle Gessner: 

Connect with Sue Mintz:

About Sue Mintz: 

During Sue Mintz’s career at a Fortune 500 company, she excelled in leadership development training and career coaching. Since retiring, she became the founder of Retirementhood™.  She is a Certified Retirement Transition Coach, speaker, writer, and workshop facilitator, focused on educating and guiding soon-to-be, or recent retirees on the importance of planning for the non-financial side of retirement. Sue offers a structured process for planning a lifestyle that is purposeful, healthy, enjoyable, and fulfills long-awaited goals. She is not a financial adviser.  

She received her retirement coaching certification through Retirement Options, a division of Career Partners Intl, LLC., and she has also been certified as an Authorized “Now What®” Coach/Facilitator. Additionally, she remains an active member of the Retirement Coaches Association.  For more information about Sue, the services she offers, and her publications, visit https://www.retirementhood.com/ or contact her at suemintz@retirementhood.com.

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Top Takeaways from 2023 (Ep.13)

Top Takeaways from 2023 (Ep.13)

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A new year provides opportunities for growth and self-improvement, and this extends to your finances too! 

But before we look too far ahead, let’s revisit a few 2023 episodes of Retire To A Life You Love® for the top takeaways that you can carry into the new year.

Gain insight as Michelle highlights practical reminders and nuggets of financial wisdom like:

  • The value of understanding and implementing tax strategies for your retirement
  • Tips for your Roth 401(k), Roth 403(b) including converting pre-tax money  
  • Benefits of a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) strategy
  • Key issues for estate planning for yourself but also your aging parents

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 of her client’s 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. 

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5 Signs It’s Time To Fire Your Financial Advisor (Ep.11)

5 Signs It’s Time To Fire Your Financial Advisor (Ep.11)

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In today’s world of relationships, if you are ignored, you’re being ‘ghosted.’ 

Basically, the person doing the ghosting has decided that they no longer care about you.

Do you feel this way about your financial advisor? If they don’t regularly communicate, share market advice or insights, or return your calls, you are likely being ghosted.

Is it time to fire your financial advisor? 

Join Michelle Gessner, CFP® as she lists the 5 Signs that you need to fire your financial advisor. Feel assured you’re making the right decision as Michelle emphasizes your right to regular communication, personalized financial planning, and having shared values with the professional that manages your investments.

Heed this as a warning that it’s time to move on as Michelle covers:

  • The importance of regular communication whether by phone, email, or in-person
  • Credential concerns; Are they a fiduciary or have financial certifications?
  • Aligning your investment goals and philosophies with your advisor
  • Warning signs that they may not be a good fit for you and your planning needs
  • How to fire your financial advisor
  • 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 of her client’s 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.

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The Importance of Personal Risk Management with Ryan Kaiser (Ep.10)

The Importance of Personal Risk Management with Ryan Kaiser (Ep.10)

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If you go outside when it is raining, you take an umbrella to keep you from getting wet.

When you ride in a car, you put on your seatbelt to keep you safe.

But what do you do to safeguard your finances?

Taking proper precautions for the safety of your assets and finances is just as important as protecting yourself from harm which is why Ryan Kaiser, Personal Risk Specialist at USI Insurance Services joins Michelle for this release of Retire To A Life You Love®.

Join them as they talk about the importance of understanding both your physical and financial risks by sharing real-life scenarios that will have you questioning if your current coverage is enough. 

Gain insight as Ryan and Michelle discuss: 

  • Umbrella coverage; the benefits and how you can protect your assets
  • Examples of exposures you may want to know about
  • The importance of uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage
  • Rising premium costs and why the insurance market is struggling with supply and demand
  • Why you should consider adding cyber coverage to your policy 
  • And more

Connect with Ryan Kaiser:

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 client’s 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. 

About Ryan Kaiser:

Ryan Kaiser is a Personal Risk Specialist at USI, and he and his team provide wealth protection by conducting comprehensive risk assessments, educating clients on potential exposures and risk mitigation practices, and transferring risk through the placement of insurance.  Ryan is a graduate of Sam Houston State University and has been in the insurance industry since 2011. Having spent a portion of that time in claims, he has helped thousands of customers recover from loss and understands the importance of having adequate coverage. 

His firm, USI, has over 150 years of consulting and brokerage experience, 10,000 employees, and 200 offices, and is a unique insurance industry leader in property & casualty, employee benefits, and personal risk.  

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Master Your Tax Planning For Retirement with Sarah Brenner (Ep. 8)

Master Your Tax Planning For Retirement with Sarah Brenner (Ep. 8)

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Join Michelle Gessner, CFP ® as she chats with tax attorney and educator Sarah Brenner from Ed Slott and Company, LLC. With over 20 years of experience, Sarah has become a trusted resource for financial advisors and their clients across the nation. Listen as she shares her insights on how you can navigate through the complexities of retirement and tax regulations. 

In this episode, you will:

  • Learn about common tax planning mistakes and traps that individuals often overlook
  • Hear real-life examples of how advisors can help you avoid costly tax implications
  • Get a glimpse into the key provisions of the recent Secure Act 2.0 and how they may impact your retirement planning
  • Why Sarah feels Roth IRAs and Roth Conversions are here to stay
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Sarah Brenner: 

Connect with Michelle Gessner:

About Sarah Brenner:

Sarah has worked for almost twenty years helping clients solve complex technical IRA questions.  She has been a contributing writer for many IRA texts, articles, and training manuals and has been quoted in national financial and tax publications such as CCH IRA Guide.  

She is an experienced speaker who has educated thousands of professionals in the financial industry including attorneys, CPAs, bankers, financial advisors, and brokers on retirement plan rules.  Sarah has won praise for her ability to communicate complex laws in an easy-to-understand way and provide practical strategies for clients.

Sarah is a contributing writer and editor for Ed Slott’s IRA Advisor newsletter, distributed to thousands of financial advisors nationwide, and writes for several areas of the company’s website, www.irahelp.com. Sarah also serves as a valuable resource for the members of Ed Slott’s Elite IRA Advisor Group™, a 400+ member organization of some of the country’s top financial advisors who are dedicated to becoming experts in IRA distribution planning. She consults with firm clients and creates IRA course manuals and training programs for financial advisors.

Sarah is a graduate of Smith College and Villanova School of Law.  She is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar.  She practiced law with a concentration in elder law for several years and for fifteen years was a senior consultant with PMC, Pension Management Company, an independent IRA consulting firm for financial organizations nationwide.

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.

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Planning Beyond Today: A Look at Long-Term Care Planning (Ep. 7)

Planning Beyond Today: A Look at Long-Term Care Planning (Ep. 7)

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Don’t wait for tomorrow, next week, or next month to figure out your long-term care plan. Now is the time to equip yourself with knowledge so you can properly plan for your future. 

In this thought-provoking episode, Michelle Gessner, CFP® and host of the Retire To A Life You Love® podcast walks listeners through long-term care options and possible scenarios that could affect you and your family.

If planning for long-term care frightens you, or you think you’re simply not old enough to plan, you need a reality check. Every day, we are all getting older, and the fact of the matter is most people are not financially ready for what could possibly happen as they age.

Join Michelle as she tackles common questions regarding long-term care, provides invaluable insight from the perspective of a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, and shares some startling statistics about our aging population.

Gain information for yourself or to share with your family about:

  • The various types of long-term care available; assisted living, nursing homes, adult daycare, and at-home nursing care. 
  • Startling statistics that will propel you to take long-term care planning seriously
  • The expenses associated with long-term care, including discussions around Medicare and Health Insurance
  • What is long-term care, and how to know if you or a loved one requires assistance
  • How the latest insurance policies work that may be less expensive than you thought
  • 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 of her client’s 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
Introducing the Retire to a Life You Love® podcast (Ep. 1)

Introducing the Retire to a Life You Love® podcast (Ep. 1)

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Are you ready to start planning for the retirement of your dreams? 

Welcome to the Retire to a Life You Love® podcast, where host Michelle Gessner, CFP® shares her expertise and strategies to help you achieve the freedom you deserve.

In this inaugural episode, we get to know Michelle, the founder of Gessner Wealth Strategies, and how she intends to help people plan for a successful, and prosperous retirement. 

Listen in as Michelle discusses:

  • How her firm helps guide clients through the retirement planning process.
  • Her love of hiking, reading, and animals.
  • Why she believes you should trust professionals to do their job.
  • How living abroad caused her to learn new customs, habits, and languages.
  • And more!

Connect with Michelle Gessner: 

About Michelle:

 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.