Tag: Asset Allocation

The Ripple Effect: How Recent Fed Actions Affect your Financial Plan [Ep. 162]

The Ripple Effect: How Recent Fed Actions Affect your Financial Plan [Ep. 162]

Interest rates may be falling, but your financial strategy doesn’t have to follow. Learn how to stay ahead in today’s ever-changing financial landscape.

Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, breaks down how these shifting rates impact everything from mortgages to retirement plans. Whether you’re buying a home, optimizing investments, or planning for your financial future, Larry offers actionable insights to help you navigate today’s economic landscape. Covering the rise and fall of interest rates and their effects on borrowing, saving, and investing, he provides strategies for adapting your financial plan across asset classes to protect your wealth.

Key Points Covered:

  • The Federal Reserve’s interest rate cut and its broader economic implications
  • How shifting rates impact mortgage costs, housing availability, and borrowing strategies
  • Key adjustments to retirement planning, including withdrawal rates and asset allocation in a low-rate environment
  • Adapting your savings strategy with CDs and treasuries (while considering the current inverted yield curve!)
  • Effective investment approaches across bonds, stocks, and real estate in the face of rate fluctuations
  • Opportunities in private equity and private credit investments as interest rates decrease
  • The importance of a diversified strategy and proactive communication, as emphasized by Heller Wealth Management
  • And much more!

 

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Unlocking Tax Strategies to Optimize Your Retirement (Ep. 152)

Unlocking Tax Strategies to Optimize Your Retirement (Ep. 152)

Are you effectively using tax strategies to boost your retirement investments?

Explore this insightful episode of the Life Unlimited Podcast featuring Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®. Larry delves into strategic tax planning and investment strategies designed to optimize retirement savings both during your working years and in retirement. Drawing from his experience as a former CPA, he underscores the significance of not only what you earn but also what you retain after taxes. Tune in as Larry highlights key strategies like capital gains management, tax loss harvesting, and the advantages of ETFs over mutual funds for tax efficiency. The episode emphasizes the importance of proactive tax planning for a secure and financially efficient retirement.

Larry Discusses:

  • The importance of understanding the advantages of ETFs for minimizing capital gains taxes
  • How and when to implement this strategy to reduce taxes by offsetting gains with losses
  • Insights on deciding which retirement account fits best depending on your current and future tax brackets
  • Maximizing tax benefits by converting during lower-income years, benefiting both the account holder and heirs
  • The necessity for a coordinated approach between financial advisors and tax professionals to optimize retirement strategies
  • And more!

 

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An Employer’s Guide to 401(k) Plans: A Four-Part Series (Part IV) (Ep. 150)

An Employer’s Guide to 401(k) Plans: A Four-Part Series (Part IV) (Ep. 150)

Are your 401(k) offerings impacting employee wellness and engagement?

Join Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, in the concluding episode of our four-part series, “An Employer’s Guide to 401k Plans.” This final segment focuses on the broader impact of 401(k) plans in terms of employee well-being and corporate culture. Larry explores how these plans transcend traditional retirement savings and play a pivotal role in fostering financial literacy, engagement, and loyalty among employees.

Larry Discusses:

  • The vital role of 401(k) plans in attracting and retaining talent and the extensive benefits for employers
  • Clarifying contributions, fund choices, and Roth options in 401(k) plans to support informed decision-making
  • Providing easily accessible resources and dedicated support for navigating 401(k) plans effectively
  • The importance of comparing model portfolios with target date funds for diverse financial needs and personalized investment approaches
  • The need for showcasing an employer’s commitment to employee well-being through comprehensive financial wellness programs
  • The necessity of continuous communication and regular educational meetings to engage employees in their 401(k) plans
  • And much more!

 

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An Employer’s Guide to 401k Plans: A Four-Part Series (Part III) (Ep. 148)

An Employer’s Guide to 401k Plans: A Four-Part Series (Part III) (Ep. 148)

Are you managing your 401(k) effectively?

Dive into the intricate world of 401(k) investment strategies with Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, in this informative third installment of the Employer’s Guide to 401k Plans series. This episode delves into crucial aspects such as fiduciary duties, investment selection, and fund diversity, offering valuable insights for trustees and plan participants alike.

Larry Discusses:

  • Emphasis on the vital role of fiduciary duties within 401(k) plans, spotlighting the frequently neglected responsibilities that plan participants hold as trustees
  • Detailed exploration of various investment types in 401(k) plans, including mutual funds and ETFs, highlighting those with clear objectives and transparency
  • The superior benefits of model portfolios compared to target date funds, tailored to diverse risk tolerances and investment goals
  • Introducing features like automatic rebalancing to aid participants in maintaining their desired asset allocation over time
  • The critical practice of regular benchmarking in 401k plans to ensure fee competitiveness and to raise awareness of hidden costs
  • And much more!

 

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Navigating A Bear Market As A Soon-To-Be Retiree (Ep.111)

Navigating A Bear Market As A Soon-To-Be Retiree (Ep.111)

You’ve done it. You’ve invested, saved, and properly allocated your money to live a fulfilling retirement. But now the economy has entered a bear market and you don’t have as much money as you thought.

A bear market can cause you to make knee-jerk reactions that can affect your retirement plan. 

In this episode, Larry Heller, CFP® discusses how to navigate a bear market and shares some strategies to use when going through a bear market in retirement.

Larry discusses: 

  • How to find out your risk tolerance in a bear market
  • How you can review and rebalance your asset allocation during a bear market
  • What you should be doing with your cash right now
  • Ways to remain calm when your portfolio continues to go down
  • And more

Resources: 

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How Much Cash Should You Have in Retirement? (Ep. 91)

How Much Cash Should You Have in Retirement? (Ep. 91)

Whether you’re three years away from retirement or are in retirement now, many pre-retirees and retirees have the same question in mind: How much cash do I really need?

In this episode, Larry Heller reveals his answer to this question and shares what’s going to have a dramatic effect on your cash during your retirement planning. Plus, he discusses how to stay the course with your money so you can retire right.

Larry discusses: 

  • The importance of knowing your annual expenses
  • Why Cash in a low interest rate environment
  • The “Sleep Factor”
  • And more

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Determining the Optimal Investment Asset Allocation For Retirees (Ep. 89)

Determining the Optimal Investment Asset Allocation For Retirees (Ep. 89)

Asset allocation is one of the most important concepts for investors to grasp. 

That’s why one of the most-asked investment questions is, “How can we achieve optimal asset allocation, particularly during retirement?”

In this episode, Larry Heller addresses some of your questions and fears about asset allocation for retirees. He provides sound advice on your investments and walks you through some of the ways Heller Wealth Management can assist you in creating a portfolio that is tailored to your specific needs.

Larry Heller discusses: 

  • Why some of the most frequently used asset allocation rules should be avoided when constructing a portfolio
  • Three factors to consider when creating an optimal asset allocation portfolio
  • What a withdrawal is
  • How the Heller Wealth Management Reservoir Strategy works and how it may help you overcome panic selling and market fears 
  • And more

Resources: 

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