Blog
How is the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, going to affect my retirement planning?
According to an article last week in The Post-Standard(Syracuse, N.Y.), New York’s health insurance exchange, which is called “NY State of Health,” will “not affect people who get health insurance at work or through the federal Medicare...
Read MoreIs your retirement plan based on your home's emotional equity?
Your home’s equity should be part of your retirement plan. But, first, think about what a home means to you. When you retire, do you want to remain in your current home because of its memories, convenience or community? Would you move to...
Read MoreWhy Your Life Insurance Needs Periodic Updating
Most people simply do not commit to keeping their life insurance in line with the purchasing value of the dollar. Most people are happy to get a raise or make more money, but they do not discipline themselves to periodically update their...
Read MoreWhat's your financial plan if you don't want to retire?
In a Federal Reserve reporton the economic well-being of U.S. households, 51 percent of those surveyed ages 55 to 64 planned to keep working (either full- or part-time) after traditional retirement age. According to research from the...
Read MoreWhat's a realistic rate of return for the money I'm now putting away for retirement?
Some experts say you can get a 12-percent return on your mutual fund investments. But, in an article titled “Is the 7 Percent Return for Stocks Extinct?”, U.S.
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What is tax-loss harvesting?
Tax-loss harvesting is the practice of buying and selling in a portfolio with the goal of reducing the tax consequences of investing. For example, an investor may sell an investment at a loss simply to offset the gains from another...
Read MoreWhat retirement planning snares should you watch out for?
In our last post, we talked about what type of questions you should ask yourself when putting together a strategy for retirement. But even retirees with a retirement strategy in place can make mistakes. Some of the snares people fall...
Read MoreWhat I Would Like To Tell My Grandchildren about Life and Money
As I raised my children I attempted to share lessons about life with them. They were raised with many advantages but I tried to share with them why they should work hard and plan for their futures. I guess I attempted to share with them...
Read MoreWhat benefits, if any, are there to retiring overseas?
Interest in retiring overseas seems to be growing. For example, the print subscribers of International Livingmagazine, a publication for professionals wanting a luxury retirement, grew from approximately 39,000 in 2009 to 100,000 in 2014.
Read MoreWhat are the top 3 mistakes young people make with regard to retirement planning?
Mistake #1: Waiting to save. Young people (folks in their 20s) tend to be focused on hobbies, travel and entertainment. There are so many things they think they need. Saving is a low priority if it’s even thought of. There are...
Read MoreVisit to Duke
As I write this article I am at Duke Medical for my semi-annual evaluation and tune-up. As most clients and friends know, 3 years ago I had a double lung transplant. That was difficult but the first 18 months of recovery and...
Read MoreThe Value of Relationships in a Technology Driven World
Everywhere we go technology has replaced face to face communication. Computers and portable phones have replaced verbal communication and talking with each other. Most people get their news from the “Web” or from cable TV. For example..
Read MoreTime Goes By....
I noticed that I have not written a blog for a while. Actually, I have been dealing with quite a bit of soul searching lately. I’ve also been in and out of WNY a couple times working on several projects. The business is growing, but...
Read MoreA Time for Caution
Recently, I had a conversation with a client who is a small business owner. A question about taking chances in this economy was brought up. I mentioned that I have been concerned with the political environment and the over regulation...
Read MoreThinking for Generations to Come
According to Inc. magazine, approximately 30 percent of America’s family owned businesses are sold or transferred to the next generation. Outside parties buy the remainder, sometimes for parts or pennies on the dollar. While the person...
Read MoreTaking a Look at the Pension Enhancement Option
Sometime in the late 1970’s we developed a concept that allowed people who had certain types of pension benefits to take the maximum payout option instead of the “Survivor Options”. It worked very well for the client if the client...
Read MoreA Summer to Remember
I am not writing this about what has been one of the warmer summers I have seen, but a summer when many sad events have occurred in our world. The changes have created a very unstable economic environment. The events in Europe have been...
Read MoreStretch Your IRA
Coaches and athletes say stretching is good for you. Turns out, stretching is also good for your finances. If you’ve ever heard someone talk about a “stretch IRA,” it’s not a new product. It’s a method of making your wealth last longer...
Read MoreA Statement on the Fragility of Health in America
Each day I continue my fight to regain and retain good health. Perhaps I am lucky because I have led a life of personal discipline. It concerns me that most people seem unconcerned with their personal well-being until something bad...
Read MoreShould you use a trust to reduce estate and gift taxes?
People most often rely on trusts to protect assets from bad decisions made by heirs who are ill-prepared to handle an inheritance. Families rely less on trusts to avoid taxes. A trust helps you put conditions on when or in what way your...
Read MoreShould You Tap Into Your Retirement Plan Before You Retire?
The Los Angeles Timesrecently reported that 25 percent of Americans are dipping into their 401(k) retirement accounts to pay bills. So what’s wrong with tapping your 401(k) or 403(b) plan to pay bills? The first problem is it indicates...
Read MoreShould I try and time my retirement with the market?
During the last six years, we’ve enjoyed a bull market. A bear market (defined as a 20 percent or more drop from the market’s high) will undoubtedly come. So people often wonder if they can (or should try to) time their retirement to...
Read MoreShould I factor in Social Security payments as part of my retirement plan if I'm in my 30s or 40s?
Should you factor in Social Security payments as part of your retirement plan if you’re in your 30s or 40s? Well, I don’t consider it as part of my retirement planning. If you exclude it from your planning, it will push you to be a more...
Read MoreRiders for the Storm
In the classic rock song “Riders on the Storm,” Jim Morrison sings, “The world on you depends; our life will never end.” And while our loved ones do depend on us, we all know our years will end. With that in mind, many people see the...
Read MoreRemembering Veterans at Christmas
I try not to think about this, but another friend and Vietnam Vet just passed away. He was one of the lucky ones. He had a nice family and a successful career as an attorney.
Read MoreProcrastination and the Business Owner
I often address the topic of Financial Messes and Procrastination. The subject is deep and wide. It seems that almost every day I meet a client who is dealing with one or both issues. I recently met a successful business owner who...
Read MorePersistency
Most people think that persistent people are a pain. The truth is that persistent people are the people who accomplish the most whether it is at work, in athletics, or in any other activity. Think of any activity and you will realize...
Read MoreOnce you retire, is it best to shift your investments to a bond-heavy allocation versus stocks?
A customer recently asked me if it were a good rule of thumb to make the percentage of his portfolio invested in bonds equivalent to his age. I don’t believe that’s a good rule. Relying too much on fixed-income investments isn’t any...
Read MoreA New Year…A New Attitude
I recently had a couple visits from old friends and it was certainly nice to see these folks again. We are all getting older and we are looking at the future in different ways. One of these people, in his mid-70’s, is still enjoying...
Read MoreMaking 2016 Your Best Year
What is the most important year of your life? It is this year. The past is a prologue and the future is uncertain. This is “the year”. It matters and you should start by making a decision that it will be your very best year...
Read MoreMachines as Investors
Robots are in the news these days. The Feb. 25, 2015, edition of The Wall Street Journal reports that experts are rethinking what robots are capable of. One interviewee said robot-driven cars were just a couple of decades away. And two...
Read MoreLegacy Planning for Loved-Ones
We all have the ability to leave various legacies. However, few of us take the time or use the opportunity. While I have been discussing various legacies with clients for years, this article is about creating a financial legacy for those...
Read MoreLeaving A Legacy
Even the person with modest wealth should consider leaving a financial legacy. Whether it is to a family heir or a worthy charitable concern, leaving a legacy is within the capability of most people. We live in an uncertain time and...
Read MoreI Was A Little Discouraged….
I wasn’t sure anyone was really reading the newsletters, but over the last few weeks dozens of clients and friends have mentioned that they have been following my writing. Thank you. I will attempt to improve both the quantity and...
Read MoreI let my spouse worry about and manage the money, so I don't have to.
You and your spouse are healthy. So letting your mate worry about the details of your finances might seem fine. But life is more about changes than constants. And if you’ve never taken the time to truly understand your finances, you’re...
Read MoreHow Much Should You Expect to Spend in Retirement?
Expect, on average, to spend 70 to 80 percent of your annual, pre-retirement income when you retire. I know clients who spend more in retirement than they did when they worked full-time. So, the answer differs for everyone. I’ve seen...
Read MoreHow do you sidestep an end to your means?
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis retired last February after winning his second Super Bowl ring. After completing his 17-year career with the Ravens, some sources peg Lewis’ financial net worth at approximately $45 million...
Read MoreHow do you pay your financial adviser?
Do you understand how advisers charge for retirement planning services and products? The financial adviser industry earns its keep from clients through a variety of payment models. However, not all advisers offer a range of models to...
Read MoreHow can you use a life insurance policy for cash?
Cash flow keeps a business afloat and allows a business owner to purchase new assets. It’s not much different for an individual. Cash flow enables you to pay your bills and invest for the future.
Read MoreHow can I protect my assets from the next economic meltdown?
Collapse and meltdown are attention-getting words. The collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008 nearly brought the financial system to a halt. In hindsight, experts say, the crisis of 2007-08 was brought on by things like bundling and selling...
Read MoreHow are we getting ahead of the curve?
Today we’re launching a blog. We know we’re behind the curve. By our estimate, we’re 500 years late. How’s that you ask? Blogs have been around since Martin Luther used the printing press to distribute his thesis. In the 1700s, Thomas...
Read MoreGoing Out of Business, With Liquidity
Most family businesses are either bought by outside parties for a fraction of what they are worth or shut down. This scenario caused me to once again look at how owners think about their businesses. Most see a small business as their...
Read MoreGet Involved---Get Informed
As citizens of this great nation you have a right and a responsibility to be informed. Where is the country headed? Who do you think has the right approach? What are your concerns? An informed citizen can make knowledgeable, educated...
Read MoreThe Future of Moldenhauer & Associates
We are expecting an exciting 2016 here at Moldenhauer & Associates. Our staff is busy serving our clients and because of the relatively mild winter, the first quarter has been busier than normal. Since our Planners and Para-Planners are...
Read MoreEstate planning for the 99 percent
Even if you believe you have a modest net worth, without an estate plan, your assets could be dispersed in ways you never imagined. And your heirs would find it difficult or impossible to get what you intended for them. Estate planning...
Read MoreThe English Language
The English Language is said to have more words than any other Western language. Unfortunately, the vocabulary of most people is limited. Occasionally, I read where financial people have a difficult time explaining concepts to clients...
Read MoreDoing it Right
When it comes to your financial planning, doing it right is very important. After 40+ years in the business of helping people protect what they love…families, their businesses, important charities, etc., what I see is people not...
Read MoreDoes your retirement savings plan include a SEP account?
In my opinion, a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) plan is among the very best retirement accounts for small businesses with one to three employees, where the owner is the “rainmaker” and has lower income employees. Sales can vary...
Read MoreDoes your financial ''house'' need cleaning?
If your financial files have taken on the look of a “paperstorm,” the thought of organizing yourself can feel overwhelming. But tax documents, estate plans and financial statements are simply tools. Keeping them sharp and in one place...
Read MoreDo you have a distribution strategy?
If you think all money is the same, you’re not looking closely enough at your funds. Here’s an example from a client I recently met. A retiree, let’s call him “John,” insisted on leaving some of his money in his 401(k) after leaving the...
Read MoreDo They Understand?
Most of our ancestors came to America for freedom of one kind or another. Our Bill of Rights guarantees many of these Freedoms and the Constitution expanded and enumerated these Rights and Freedoms. Where our parents and many of our...
Read MoreDistributing Money Takes a Different Strategy than Accumulating Dollars
Let’s say a recently retired couple in their 60s wants to buy a home in Florida. To do this, they should clearly delineate the funds for buying the home from the money used to generate income over the next 20 years. Money for real estate...
Read MoreThe Difference
Last night, I was watching my favorite college basketball team play. For most of the game, they were in the lead and looked in control. But, in the last couple minutes of play, they let the lead slip away and eventually lost the game...
Read MoreFrom the Desk of Richard Moldenhauer
I have always had an interest in writing. It may go back to my youth, but the desire became more important when I was preparing for my lung transplant in early 2013. I found myself writing to friends and family, to clients...
Read MoreCan anyone expect to save for retirement and college tuition?
This question haunts many Americans. The easy answer is: Loans exist for college tuition, but not for retirement. That creates a moral dilemma. Why? We often encourage our children to attend the best school they can get into.
Read MoreBridge the Gap with Executive Compensation
According to a The New York Times article about small businesses, “… most owners put off getting a valuation until a sale is imminent.” And when owners try to get a valuation, says The Times, few seem to know how to make a good guess.
Read MoreAre You Facing a Part-Time Retirement?
Americans with an individual retirement account have significantly more wealth, on average, than those without, writes the Employee Benefit Research Institute. So why aren’t we all saving (even a small amount) if we know it’s a pathway...
Read MoreAmerica's Future
America’s Future Ours has always been a noble country. Our country’s reason for being was based on “Freedom”. Today “Freedom” is under fire not from just afar, but from within.
Read MoreAll in the Family
“’You’re still too young to run this business,’ said the father to his sixty-something-year-old son,” recalled Niagara University Family Business Center Director Vince Agnello as he reflected on succession planning. According to Vince...
Read MoreIs $1 Million Enough to Retire On?
Last year USA Today columnist Rodney Brooks wrote “… you’ve banked a cool $1 million for your retirement years. Think you’re set? … you still might be short.”
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