Are you holding too much, or too little cash in retirement?
Finding the right amount of cash to keep on hand is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when creating a retirement income strategy. The wrong decision could lead to stress, missed growth opportunities, or even long-term financial instability.
In this episode of Retirement Unlocked, Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, breaks down how much cash retirees should have in their portfolio, and why it matters more than you might think. He introduces his “retirement cash reserve strategy,” designed to help you generate steady income while protecting against market volatility.
What to expect in this episode:
A breakdown of bear vs. bull markets since 1945 and what they teach us about cash reserves
How to calculate 24–36 months of protected cash for downturns
The role of risk tolerance and income modeling in reserve planning
How to build a personal “cash reservoir” that keeps retirement stress low
Outsourcing your bookkeeping isn’t just a cost-saving move; it could be the smartest strategic decision your business makes this year.
In this episode, Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®,sits down with Cheri Giglia, Owner and Managing Director of Supporting Strategies on Long Island, to explore why more small businesses are turning to virtual bookkeeping for efficiency, clarity, and peace of mind.
Cheri shares how outsourced financial support can streamline operations, enhance internal controls, and deliver timely insights that empower business owners to make better decisions, whether they’re planning for growth, managing cash flow, or preparing for an audit. With real client stories and tech-forward best practices, this episode is packed with value for any business owner looking to scale smarter.
What to expect from this episode:
The top reasons businesses are turning to virtual bookkeeping
How cloud-based systems streamline accounting operations
Real client scenarios where bookkeeping impacted business decisions
Tips for choosing the right outsourced financial team
Accounting and bookkeeping are services that many businesses on Long Island need to manage more effectively. Business owners struggle to find professionals who they trust to manage these important aspects of their operations. This is where Cheri Giglia and her company, Supporting Strategies on Long Island, come in. Her professional team removes owners’ headaches and improves efficiencies.
As an accountant and former Financial Director for a public company, Cheri has expertise working in many different industries. She understands the pressure and stress that business owners face when it comes to gaining greater financial control of their operations. She uses her more than two decades of experience in accounting and financial management to create strategies to improve efficiencies and reduce costs.
Cheri’s team of skilled accounting professionals accomplishes this by leveraging technology, allowing clients to easily outsource accounts payable management, billing/accounts receivables, financial/management reporting, HR and payroll support, bookkeeping and monthly financial statements/reports, and controller services. Outsourcing these services allows businesses to focus on growth and other profit-making activities. The way Cheri’s team operates permits them to offer competitively priced professional services and attention that competitors are unable to offer.
Cheri recognizes that there are many choices when it comes to selecting a professional or firm to provide accounting, bookkeeping, and controller services. Business owners and managers choose to work with her because of her experience, personal commitment, and her ability to rapidly provide the financial information they need to make critical business decisions.
The market is unpredictable; your retirement plan shouldn’t be.
In this episode of Retirement Unlocked, host Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, breaks down six of the most common (and costly) mistakes people make when planning for retirement. From underestimating how much you can spend to failing to optimize your Social Security benefits, Larry shares why these pitfalls occur and how a process-based retirement plan can help you avoid them.
Whether you’re approaching retirement or already there, this episode provides actionable strategies to help you invest wisely, reduce emotional decision-making, and stay aligned with your long-term financial goals.
Key conversations in this week’s release include:
The importance of knowing how much you can truly spend in retirement [00:00:47]
Why creating a total return strategy beats relying solely on income [00:03:20]
The pitfalls of being too conservative with your investment portfolio [00:07:02]
When to start withdrawing from your retirement accounts—not just when RMDs kick in [00:10:32]
How to optimize Social Security for the best possible outcome [00:13:17]
The critical need for a comprehensive estate plan [00:15:51]
Health insurance is one of the largest expenses for many businesses, but are you getting what you’re paying for?
In this eye-opening episode, Larry Heller, CFP®, speaks with Louis Bernardi of BrightPath Benefit Advisors about the outdated and opaque nature of most employer-sponsored health insurance plans. Louis reveals how major carriers prioritize shareholder profits over actual care and explains how his PLAN system and data-driven strategies are helping employers cut costs while providing better healthcare options for employees.
From skyrocketing pharmacy costs to hidden MRI fees, Lou unpacks the waste baked into the system and provides actionable strategies to fix it. This is a behind-the-scenes look at an advanced strategy most employers haven’t even heard of.
Key discussions in this release include:
Why traditional health insurance models are broken
The hidden data behind skyrocketing healthcare costs
How Lou’s PLAN system (Prioritize, Leverage, Align, Navigate) helps optimize benefit design
Louis Bernardi is the Founder & Benefit Optimization Officer of BritePath. Lou is the innovator behind BritePath, the benefit strategy that flattens the curve on health insurance costs. BritePath helps benefit decision makers reset their expectations with advanced analytics & insights that make them and their members more informed health care consumers capable of changing the trajectory of the cost and quality of their employer-sponsored health insurance plan. Pay More, Get Less is replaced by a High-Performance Health Care Plan that allows them to finally start winning.
Lou is proud to be among the first 150 advisors accepted into Health Rosetta; an eco-system of forward-thinking advisors and solution partners that share his passion for helping people and businesses customize health plans that enhance benefits, improve outcomes and reduce costs.
Lou is also involved with Aspirational Healthcare, Free Market Medical and is a Forbes Business Council member.
Your 5-Year Retirement Countdown: Key Steps to Take Now [Ep.175]
What are some steps you should be taking 5 years before your retirement?
This question sets the stage for an engaging episode with Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA ®, where we delve into the crucial five-year countdown to retirement.
Larry emphasizes the importance of timely planning and actionable strategies to ensure a smooth shift into this new life phase. From building up cash reserves to maximizing 401(k) contributions, Larry walks us through a comprehensive guide tailored to those nearing retirement.
Larry covers topics such as:
Building cash reserves and why they’re crucial for a stable retirement [00:01:06]
Strategies to maximize your 401k contributions, especially for those over 50 [00:02:33]
Tax-efficient withdrawal strategies and their significance in your retirement plan [00:06:23]
The concept of a ‘Retirement Lifestyle Dry Run’ to mentally and financially prepare for life after work [00:10:34]
Wildfires. Hurricanes. Cyber Attacks. How are today’s biggest threats reshaping the insurance industry—and what can you do to stay protected?
In this episode of Retirement Unlocked, Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, sits down with Gregg Knepper, President of Integrated Coverage Group, to break down the rapidly changing insurance landscape. With more than 15 years of experience in risk management and personal insurance, Gregg shares expert insights into how natural disasters, inflation, and digital threats are driving up premiums—and what you can do about it.
From rising home and auto rates to the hidden gaps in your umbrella and cyber insurance, this conversation is packed with practical tips for protecting what matters most.
Key discussion points include:
Understanding personal insurance market challenges [01:00]
Impact of national disasters on local insurance premiums [02:45]
Adjusting policies with higher deductibles for cost efficiency [10:30]
The role of umbrella coverage and uninsured motorist protection [18:15]
The rise of cyber threats and the necessity for cyber insurance for individuals and businesses [24:00]
Gregg Knepper is an experienced Insurance Adviser specializing in helping businesses and individuals limit their risk. As the President of Integrated Coverage Group, a rapidly growing insurance brokerage, Gregg brings over 13 years of expertise in the industry. Unlike traditional brokers who work for specific insurance carriers, Gregg is dedicated to working solely for their clients, ensuring that each client receives a solution tailored to their unique needs.
With a focus on reducing risk, Gregg works closely with clients to craft personalized insurance strategies across a wide range of areas, including workers’ compensation, employee benefits, and cyber insurance. Known for their trustworthiness, knowledge, and honesty, Gregg partners with clients every step of the way to ensure that their risks are managed effectively.
Specializing in supporting quickly growing businesses with sophisticated insurance and risk management needs, Gregg has extensive experience in serving industries such as technology firms, medical practices, real estate, manufacturing, and restaurants and hospitality.
Whether a client is a small startup or a large, complex organization, Gregg Knepper provides the expertise and dedication to meet their specific insurance needs.
5 Tax Gotchas That High-Net-Worth Individuals Overlook [Ep.173]
What tax traps could derail your retirement plans?
In this episode, Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, breaks down five major tax “gotchas” that high-net-worth retirees must navigate to protect their wealth and retirement security.
From the impact of required minimum distributions to the looming expiration of the 2017 tax cuts, Larry sheds light on often-overlooked tax challenges. He also explores strategic solutions like Roth conversions and income planning to help retirees minimize surprises and maximize financial confidence.
Key episode discussions include:
Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) and their tax impact [03:09]
Expiration of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act [04:04]
The “Widow Penalty” and implications for single retirees [07:37]
Gifting strategies and estate planning considerations [10:03]
The consequences of leaving large IRAs to children [11:05]
It’s time to discuss the world of Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) in accounting.
In this episode, Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA ® sits down with Geoff Bruskin, M&A specialist from White Tiger Connections, Inc., to discuss the bustling landscape of M&A, particularly within accounting. Geoff, with his extensive background in business brokerage and private equity, sheds light on why accounting firms have become hot commodities for private equity firms and other investors in today’s market.
They explore the emergence of PE interest in an untapped sector, revealing insights on operational optimization and technology’s transformative role. The conversation touches on AI’s potential to reshape professional services and offers a roadmap for navigating talent challenges in the industry.
Key conversations in this release include:
Why accounting firms are gaining traction in M&A
The impact of subscription-based and value-based billing
Geoff Bruskin helps CPA firms and wealth management practices scale, merge, acquire, and ultimately realize the enterprise value they’ve built. As the founder of White Tiger Connections, Geoff operates at the intersection of M&A advisory, business brokerage, and strategic growth – whether organic or through acquisition.
Beyond the accounting and financial services sectors, Geoff works with firm owners and their clients across industries – construction, logistics, IT/MSP, marketing, manufacturing, and beyond – helping them navigate liquidity events, capital raises, and succession planning with precision.
Geoff also hosts The Nexus Point Podcast, where he sits down with industry leaders, investors, and operators to dimensionalize trends in M&A, private capital, and firm growth strategy.
At the core of everything: relationships. The best opportunities emerge from trust, alignment, and a clear understanding of what success looks like – today and years down the road.
Retirement Unlocked: Managing Sequence of Returns Risk [Ep.171]
What does it mean to face the ‘sequence of returns risk’ when you retire?
In this episode of Retirement Unlocked, Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, discusses why the order of your investment returns matters as you enter retirement. Larry also breaks down this critical aspect of retirement planning and introduces strategies that can safeguard your financial future.
Key episode discussion points include:
The shift from “Life Unlimited” to “Retirement Unlocked”
How the sequence of returns can impact retirees
Historical examples of sequence of returns risk
The reservoir strategy for mitigating those risks
Insights on adjusting your withdrawal strategy
Behavioral finance and the psychological aspects of investing
Are You Prepared for the Biggest Tax Changes in Years?
The 2025 tax landscape is about to undergo a massive shift as key provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act expire. These changes could mean higher tax rates, fewer deductions, and major implications for your income, business, and estate.
In this episode of Life Unlimited, host Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, sits down with tax expert Bill Minoff to break down exactly what’s coming and what you can do now to protect your wealth. From the potential reduction in estate tax exemptions to adjustments in Social Security and corporate taxes, they uncover the critical updates that could reshape financial planning.
Don’t wait until it’s too late—understanding and preparing for these changes now could make all the difference.
Key episode discussion points include:
The significance of the 2025 tax year
Key provisions that might sunset, including the top tax rates and pass-through business deductions
Changes in estate tax exemptions and their impacts
The potential shift in state and local tax (SALT) deductions and ongoing negotiations.
The return of miscellaneous itemized deductions if no agreement is reached
Bill Minoff is a dedicated and trusted tax executive with a proven track record of effectively managing the needs of a large family tax planning and compliance practice. With a focus on balancing the priorities of the family, Bill oversees a team responsible for preparing and reviewing a wide range of returns, including individual, fiduciary, small business, exempt organization, and business filings.
Bill collaborates closely with family members, company and outside counsel, family office executives, and other employees to provide expert tax planning and consulting in areas such as federal and state income tax, estate and gift tax, as well as executive compensation and benefits matters.
