The start of a new year is one of the most valuable planning moments for retirees, not because everything needs to change, but because the right questions can shape better decisions all year long.
In this episode, Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, walks through the key January questions retirees should be asking, covering taxes, withdrawals, cash management, portfolio alignment, and lifestyle planning, so small adjustments now can help reduce stress later.
Larry discusses:
Why it matters which accounts you withdraw from in retirement, not just how much you take
How tax-efficient withdrawal planning can help manage future tax brackets
When Roth conversions may still make sense during retirement
How much cash do retirees want on hand to avoid selling investments during market downturns
Why portfolio alignment should support spending needs, inflation, and peace of mind
The importance of reviewing beneficiaries, estate documents, and healthcare cost planning
How planning builds confidence to enjoy retirement without overspending or underspending
Selling a business is one of the biggest financial decisions an owner will ever make, and the right preparation can shape both the outcome and the next chapter of life.
In this episode, Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, speaks with Gregg Schor, CEO of Protegrity Advisors, about what business owners need to understand before entering the mergers and acquisitions process. Gregg shares practical, experience-based insights into how different buyer types approach transactions and how sellers can position themselves well ahead of a sale to improve both financial and non-financial outcomes. Together, they walk through the typical Mergers & Acquisitions timeline and key decision points business owners should be prepared to navigate from early planning through closing.
Gregg discusses:
The different types of buyers in today’s market, including strategic buyers, private equity firms, and family offices
How seller goals influence deal structure, timing, and buyer fit
The role of cash at closing, earnouts, and rollover equity in a transaction
Why the best time to consider selling is often when the business is performing well
What preparation really looks like, from financials and contracts to reducing owner dependency
How the M&A process typically unfolds, from early planning through closing
Gregg Schor is the CEO of Protegrity Advisors and has over 25 years of experience managing mergers and acquisitions, corporate development, legal, and human resources for companies of all sizes in a wide range of industries. He has previously held senior management positions at companies that have been acquired by IBM, Microsoft, and EMC, including Deputy and General Counsel, Senior Vice President of Corporate Development, Senior Vice President of Human Resources, and Director of European Operations. As a result, he brings a very unique perspective to Protegrity clients, having been on all sides of M&A transactions and in a variety of roles.
Over the years, he has developed an extensive network of national and international relationships with public and private companies, private equity firms, family offices, search funds, and serial entrepreneurs, looking for businesses to acquire. He is on the boards of the Exit Planning Institute and the Alliance of Merger & Acquisition Advisors, and is a member of the Exit Planning Exchange (Long Island Chapters).
Gregg received a J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law and a Diploma on International and Comparative Law for study in Russia and Poland from the University of San Diego School of Law. He also completed the Mergers and Acquisitions Executive Education Program at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and the Certificate Program in Family Business Leadership and Governance from Cornell University.
