Your Life Your Wealth
345 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★★ - 27 ratingsExclusive interviews from the nation's most renowned experts on topics ranging from personal finance to global markets and politics. Expert insights for enhancing Your Life and Your Wealth brought to you by Cordasco Financial Network.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Your Bitcoin and Blockchain Primer: Is it Speculating or Investing - Episode 202
September 19, 2019 23:35 - 19 minutes - 26.9 MBJohn Walker and members of the CFN team discuss bitcoin and blockchain. Client Services Specialist Evan Salter details the technology and the potential applications. Financial Advisor Larry Shaw of the CFN investment team joins the conversation to discuss whether buying bitcoin is an investment or just wild speculation. Program Length: 19 minutes
This One-Size-Fits-All Investment Could be Putting Your 401(k) at Risk - Episode 201
September 13, 2019 19:38 - 15 minutes - 21.8 MBThis One-Size-Fits-All Investment Could be Putting Your 401(k) at Risk John Walker, Larry Shaw and Dennis Jablonoski of the Cordasco Financial Network team gather for a discussion on the pros and cons of target date funds. In these popular funds the level of risk is gradually adjusted to coordinate with a specific event date such as retirement. Find out why this easy, set-it and forget-it investment may be far from the best option for investors. Program Length: 15 minutes
Are You Ready for "What If?" - Episode 200
September 06, 2019 11:09 - 38 minutes - 52.9 MBYou’ll hear a personal, first-hand story on why it’s absolutely essential to plan for the unexpected. An unforeseen event could happen regarding your finances, your health, your family, just about anything. Things we can’t control are the most difficult to navigate, but they can be overcome if you have a plan. Program Length: 39 minutes
Your Empty Nest Leads to a Fuller Wallet - Episode 199
August 30, 2019 14:46 - 18 minutes - 25.1 MBWhen the kids are grown and have left the family home, many parents experience "empty nest syndrome.” It’s a “condition” with both emotional and financial symptoms. John Walker of the Cordasco Financial Network team hosts and is joined by CFN advisor and financial planning specialist Dennis Jablonoski. They discuss the challenges that may arise when a couple, no longer immersed in the efforts of raising children, suddenly find themselves in what may seem like a totally new relationship. Plu...
Healthcare Solutions You Must Know to Offset Rising Costs in Retirement - Episode 198
August 23, 2019 10:27 - 15 minutes - 21.5 MBYour rising costs for healthcare could bankrupt your retirement plan. Cordasco Financial Network’s John Walker sits in for me and is joined by CPA Jim Tate, a member of the CFN team. They discuss solutions that will help you prepare for the increasing cost of healthcare. Program Length: 16 minutes
How You Can Avoid Emotional Financial Decisions - Episode 197
August 16, 2019 16:58 - 14 minutes - 20.5 MBCordasco Financial Network’s Business Development Director John Walker sits in. Like nearly all decisions you make based purely on emotions, the outcome is often not what you’d want or expect. As the saying goes “cooler heads prevail.” Most decisions, including those all-important financial and retirement decisions, are best made by pushing aside your emotions and relying on the facts, past history, and sometimes gut instinct. John discusses four specific types of emotional financial decis...
Top 10 Retirement Planning Mistakes You Can Avoid - Episode 196
August 09, 2019 19:22 - 30 minutes - 41.2 MBCordasco Financial Network’s Business Development Director John Walker sits in, along with CFN Financial Advisor and CPA Tim Joseph. They take an adventurous dive into the most common mistakes you can make while planning for, or living through, your retirement years. John and Tim offer practical advice to help you recognize and rectify these common errors. Program Length: 30 minutes
Your Gradual Retirement - Episode 195
August 02, 2019 15:50 - 22 minutes - 30.7 MBYour gradual retirement can benefit you and your employer. If you retire abruptly from full-time work, the transition can be a shock to your system, and to those around you, particularly your spouse. At a time when a massive number of baby boomers are reaching retirement age, many employers are concerned about finding enough skilled workers to fill their shoes. Cordasco Financial Network’s John Walker sits for me and is joined by CFN's Brian Hillsberg to discuss the concept of easing into ...
Money Matters Within Your Control - Episode 194
July 26, 2019 16:35 - 20 minutes - 27.5 MBYou Control Your Finances, You Don’t Control the Markets Some people spend lots of time fixating on market performance. Fact is, we have no control over the direction of the markets, but there are many financial matters where control is fully within our grasp. You can control your cashflow, spending, saving, tax planning, and insurance. John Walker of the Cordasco Financial Network team sits in for Steve today and is joined by CPA and team member Tim Joseph. They discuss the importanc...
You Can Make Smarter Decisions Now - A Conversation with Poker Champ and Business Consultant Annie Duke
July 19, 2019 10:57 - 30 minutes - 42.4 MBThis week, I go back to the Your Life Your Wealth archives for a discussion on how you can deal with uncertainty and avoid making emotional decisions. I talk with former poker champ turned business consultant Annie Duke, author of “Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don’t Have All The Facts.” Learn best practices for poker players and investors. Program Length: 31 minutes
Money Saving Tax Strategies You Need to Know Right Now - Episode 193
July 11, 2019 19:26 - 33 minutes - 45.5 MBThe IRS tax code, as it stands today, won’t survive. Some recent changes will either expire in 2026 or, if the political winds in Washington shift, perhaps sooner. Taxes are one of the biggest expenses you’ll face in retirement. Proper tax planning is imperative. In this episode, I detail four important strategies for Roth IRA conversions you can use today that will help you save on taxes in the years ahead. Program Length: 33 minutes
A Better Way to Measure Your Investment Performance - Episode 192
July 04, 2019 16:46 - 24 minutes - 33.6 MBHow are you judging your investment success? Are you an outcome driven or performance driven investor? There are many priorities you should consider before simply judging the success of your investment strategy purely on performance numbers. As an investor, your priorities are unique. Measuring your investment returns against arbitrary benchmarks isn’t necessarily the best way to evaluate your specific situation. I discuss ways outcome driven investors more likely to attain success, as ...
Will You be Impacted by State & Local Tax Deduction Work-Arounds Nixed by the IRS? - Episode 191
June 27, 2019 15:47 - 21 minutes - 29.8 MBState and local tax deductibility was capped in the 2018 federal tax law changes causing high tax states to look for ways to get around parts of the new law. The IRS has now ruled against the state’s efforts to circumvent the cap causing some in congress to start pushing for a repeal of the SALT (state and local tax) cap. Cordasco Financial Network CPA Jim Tate joins me to discuss the dollars and cents of this and the unlikely position some politicians find themselves in by supporting the e...
Can Mutual Funds with More Restrictions Actually Have Benefits? - Podcast 190
June 21, 2019 18:24 - 24 minutes - 33.5 MBIn the last ten years, exchange traded funds have become very popular, in part because investors can buy and sell any time the markets are open. In today’s discussion, I fill you in on something new called interval funds, which restrict total withdrawals to a range of 5% to 25% of fund assets in a specified period, such as once a quarter. Some fund companies believe interval funds can deliver higher returns because of illiquidity. These funds also use higher risk investments that are usua...
Your Mid-Year Market Update - Episode 189
June 13, 2019 11:29 - 23 minutes - 32.2 MBWe’re nearing the end of the first half of 2019, a time to look back, and look ahead, as I’m joined by Chad Tischer, member of the CFN investment team at DiMeo, Schneider & Associates. We cover the equity and bond markets, tariffs, Federal Reserve policy, the employment outlook, and more. Program Length: 23 minutes
Retirement Planning for Age Gap Couples- Episode 188
June 06, 2019 17:40 - 24 minutes - 33.7 MBRetirement Planning Tips for Age Gap Couples Married couples with a sizable age difference face unique challenges relating to retirement. I discuss the issues including how age gap retirement impacts social security decisions, asset distributions, and other financial matters. I also talk about the psychological and social effects of one spouse retiring as the other maintains full-time employment. Program Length: 25 minutes
Financial Advice To Avoid - Episode 187
May 30, 2019 13:31 - 25 minutes - 34.5 MBSix Pieces of Common Financial Advice You May Want to Avoid Whether it’s from a financial professional or your brother-in-law, there’s no shortage of financial advice being dispensed. I discuss some common advice that perhaps you shouldn’t heed. Program Length: 25 minutes
The True Meaning of Memorial Day - Episode 186
May 24, 2019 16:17 - 18 minutes - 24.9 MBA Shocking Number of Americans Unaware of The True Meaning of Memorial Day Far too many Americans recently surveyed didn’t know that on Memorial Day we honor those who have served our country and paid the ultimate price. I’m joined by Col. Kenneth DeTreux, U.S.M.C. Ret., currently Commandant of Cadets at Valley Forge Military Academy & College to discuss the true meaning of Memorial Day. Program Length: 18 minutes
Tariff Talk Rocks the Markets - Episode 185
May 17, 2019 14:15 - 19 minutes - 26.2 MBTariff Talk Rocks the Markets Tariffs and the threat of a trade war with China were back in the news. I’ll bring you up-to-date on where the negotiations currently stand, discuss the impact tariffs could have on your wallet, our economy and the strong influence news reports on tariffs have on the equities markets. Program Length: 19 minutes
Increase Your Investment Returns with this Tax Saving Strategy - Episode 184
May 09, 2019 19:48 - 17 minutes - 24.6 MBIncrease Your Investment Returns with this Tax Saving Strategy I discuss tax loss harvesting, a way to realize losses to offset gains in your investment portfolio. It’s a strategy that could give you a half point increase in your investment returns, but there are some specific conditions you need to consider. Program Length: 18 minutes
Social Security Scandal - Episode183
May 02, 2019 22:25 - 8 minutes - 11.9 MBSocial Security Scandal Questions about the future solvency of the social security system populate our news feeds. There are a variety of gloomy predictions about the survival of the system. As a preamble to future podcasts on social security, I briefly discuss whether or not our nation’s pool of social security money should be more aggressively invested. Could more aggressive investing of those dollars reduce the likelihood of a coming social security shortfall? Some consider the failu...
The Keys to Real Retirement Happiness - Episode 182
April 25, 2019 17:20 - 25 minutes - 35 MBThe Key to Real Retirement Happiness My guest Michael Finke, Chief Academic Officer of the American College of Financial Services, has been researching the elements of true retirement happiness for years. His findings indicate that there are three strong predictors, the first two are money and health. The third, perhaps equally as important to the first two, is the nurturing of personal and social relationships, especially the quality of your relationship with your spouse. We go in-dept...
The "Extra Eyes" Have It: Income Tax Review - Episode 181
April 19, 2019 14:57 - 7 minutes - 10.7 MBThe "Extra Eyes" Have It: Income Tax Review At Cordasco Financial Network, we don’t “do" your taxes, but we do offer the invaluable service of looking over the details of your return to ensure accuracy and make certain every tax-saving opportunity is realized. CFN Financial Advisor John Walker joins me to discuss the details. Program Length: 8 minutes
Jags To Jail Cells and Other Legal News - Episode 180
April 12, 2019 12:56 - 27 minutes - 37.1 MBJags to Jail Cells Operation Varsity Blues is back in the news this week. Several high-profile wealthy parents pleaded guilty to tax evasion charges for trying to bribe their children's way into college. Those who didn’t plead guilty saw their charges increased from mail fraud to the more serious charges of money laundering and conspiracy to commit fraud. Philadelphia Attorney Ian Comisky, Partner with the firm Fox Rothschild, joins me to discuss the scandal along with other legal issu...
Do You Know How Much Money You Will Really Need In Retirement? - Episode 179
April 04, 2019 13:45 - 14 minutes - 19.9 MBDo You Know How Much Money You Will Really Need In Retirement? The biggest fear many retirees have is running out of money. I’m joined by Aline Holzworth, a Behavioral Scientist at Duke University, who recently co-authored a Wall Street Journal article on her research to help determine the amount of money you may need in retirement. It’s a surprisingly high percentage of the annual income earned during your working years, and a much larger number than is often used as a rule-of-thumb by ma...
Boost Your Investment Returns With Smart Tax Strategies - Episode 178
March 28, 2019 19:35 - 32 minutes - 45.1 MBToo many investors spend too much time chasing specific stocks or trying to time the market, while at the same time are careless about maximizing their tax benefits. Carefully managing your taxes is an area where you can have a significant impact on the growth of your investments. Being smart about where you invest for retirement and even smarter about which retirement accounts you withdraw from, and in what order, can make a significant difference in the amount of money you keep and how mu...
How the Federal Reserve Impacts You and Your Money - Episode 177
March 22, 2019 16:42 - 25 minutes - 35.4 MBJerome Powell says the Federal Reserve is going to be rate neutral for now. What do his comments mean to you? I talk with Senior Financial Analyst Joe Cortese. We discuss market fundamentals as we approach the end of the first quarter of 2019. Plus, the Fed’s inflation fight, corporate debt and the strength of the U.S. dollar. I also give my take on the markets and how volatility can bring opportunities. Program Length: 25 minutes yourlifeyourwealth.com
FIRE: Ingenious Retirement Idea or Harebrained Scheme - Episode 176
March 15, 2019 13:48 - 17 minutes - 23.7 MBIt’s considered either a “fantastic new idea” or “the path to financial ruin.” There's a controversial new and growing trend relating to retirement called FIRE, Financial Independence Retire Early. It’s a movement, largely supported by millennials, promoting the idea of living frugally while saving up to half of your income early in your career, then retiring in your mid 40’s. I discuss the FIRE concept and look at the possible benefits and many problems connected to this very different ty...
Jersey Shore Towns Take Hit on Property Values - Episode 175
March 07, 2019 22:02 - 24 minutes - 33 MBJersey Shore Towns Take Hit on Property Values Research indicates that the increase in property values at some Jersey Shore towns is being stunted by rising sea levels. Towns including Brigantine, Atlantic City, Sea Isle City, and North Wildwood are among the top 20 locations impacted, with the burgeoning retirement town of Ocean City being the hardest hit. I'm a resident of the Jersey Shore and skeptical of these findings, but wanted further detail. I’m joined by Columbia University re...
Retirement Account Consolidation - Episode 174
March 01, 2019 00:19 - 17 minutes - 24.6 MBRetirement Account Consolidation If you’ve worked for various companies during your career, you may have accumulated several 401(k) accounts. As retirement approaches, perhaps you should consider consolidating those accounts. This streamlining process can be complicated, and there could be benefits to maintaining separate accounts. I’ll walk you through the process and detail the pros and cons of retirement account consolidation. Program Length: 18 minutes
Investing in Disruptive Technologies - Episode 173
February 22, 2019 15:46 - 18 minutes - 24.7 MBInvesting In Innovation: Disruptive Technologies Catherine Wood, Groundhog Day presenter and CEO of ARC Invest, joins me for a discussion about investing in disruptive technologies. Ark Invest seeks investment opportunities with companies who specialize in technological innovations such as robotics, big data, cloud computing, and energy storage. Program Length: 18 minutes
Giving Back to Those Who've Served: A Conversation with Rear Admiral Thomas C. Lynch (USN Ret.) - Episode 172
February 14, 2019 11:40 - 22 minutes - 30.5 MBGiving Back to Those Who've Served: A Conversation with Rear Admiral Thomas C. Lynch (USN Ret.) My broadcast from the 26th Annual Emerald Groundhog Day Investment Forum continues. I’m joined by Rear Admiral Thomas C. Lynch (USN Ret.) along with Joe Besecker, Founder, Chairman, and President of Emerald Asset Management. We discuss Admiral Lynch’s long and distinguished military and business career and his current work managing the nation’s leading VA mortgage company. Joe joins the conv...
Training Returning Veterans - Episode 171
February 08, 2019 14:46 - 40 minutes - 55.3 MBGiving Back to Those Who Serve I’m joined by Cal Quinn, Naval Academy graduate and service-wounded veteran who participated in Operation Enduring Freedom just after the 9/11 attacks. Cal, who also works in the financial industry, and I discuss his military service and the importance of helping veterans by teaching skills that will serve them throughout their careers. Our conversation was recorded at the 26th annual Groundhog Day Investment Forum hosted in Philadelphia by Emerald ...
Preparing for the Inevitable (Not Death!) - Episode 170
February 01, 2019 15:01 - 14 minutes - 20 MBPreparing for the Inevitable (Not Death!) Ben Franklin famously said: “In this world, nothing is certain but death and taxes.” I’ll leave the death discussion for another day. For now, tax season is here and Cordasco Financial Network CPA Tim Joseph joins me for a review of several new tax laws that will impact your filing this year. Program Length: 15 minutes
Where Science Meets Money - Episode 169
January 25, 2019 20:36 - 15 minutes - 20.8 MBWhere Science Meets Money How old are you? It may no longer be just a simple question. I share new scientific data about chronological vs. biological age, and how it may someday be used to more accurately develop the wealth part of your financial plan. Program Length: 15 minutes
Passing of a Pioneer- Episode 168
January 18, 2019 11:56 - 20 minutes - 27.9 MBThis past week Jack Bogle, founder of The Vanguard Group, died at the age of 89. I pay tribute to this giant in the investment world who will be best remembered for his passion regarding low-cost, uncomplicated long-term mutual fund investing. Program Length: 20 minutes
Portfolio Rebalance: Why, When & How - Episode 167
January 11, 2019 19:09 - 19 minutes - 26.9 MBPortfolio Rebalance: Why, When & How Taking the practice of rebalancing to a deeper level. I describe how rebalancing is needed to keep you on track, but can take on very different characteristics based on your risk tolerance, goals and stage of life. Program Length: 20 minutes
Clarity For The New Year: Knowing Why - Episode 166
January 08, 2019 15:16 - 27 minutes - 38.3 MBLast year's market activity included sell-offs and wild swings. It's time to analyze the “why's.” Why did the markets behave that way? Why did you sell or perhaps why didn’t you buy more aggressively on the dips? I discuss how a better understanding of the “why's” creates clarity and can help take the emotion out of investing. I’ll also outline some of the specific reasons market volatility has increased and some lessons we can all learn from TV’s “America Pickers."
401(k) Strategy For 2019 - Episode 165
January 04, 2019 14:53 - 10 minutes - 15 MBYour 401(k): As Seen On TV The “set it and forget it” approach may have been fine for the Ronco Showtime Rotisserie Oven so many of us saw advertised on television back in the day, however it’s not a sound strategy for managing your 401(k) plan today. I’ll describe specific things you should consider doing with your 401(k) to take full advantage of current market conditions. Program Length: 11 minutes
Listener Email Questions Answered - Episode 164
December 21, 2018 17:10 - 19 minutes - 27.4 MBAt Cordasco Financial Network, we receive lots of listener emails each week, and it’s time to address a few on this program. I answer questions on the characteristics of bull and bear markets, recent activity by the Federal Reserve, and give you an inside look at what we do at CFN during the type of market conditions we are currently experiencing. Program Length: 20 minutes
Investing In Emerging Markets -Episode 163
December 17, 2018 15:27 - 13 minutes - 18.6 MBAt a time of continued volatility for domestic markets, I take a look at the potential opportunities from adding emerging markets and other overseas investments to the growth portion of a portfolio. To listen to this 14 minute podcast, click below. Program Length: 14 minutes
Stock Investing For Dividends - Episode 162
December 14, 2018 18:00 - 9 minutes - 12.6 MBCurrent volatile market conditions may call for adjustments to be made within your investment portfolio. I'll explain how one of the options, dividend paying stocks, has come back into focus for investors. Program Length: 9 minutes
Market Swings & Your Investment Strategy - Episode 161
December 11, 2018 18:06 - 14 minutes - 20.3 MBDid the recent wild swings in the markets cause you to rethink your investment strategy? Healthy markets move up and down, and often evoke emotional responses from investors. I’ll explore the reasons for these swings, look at them historically, and tell you why I believe that an unemotional assessment of current conditions show that our economy is fundamentally sound. Program Length: 15 minutes
Managing Expectations - Episode 160
December 07, 2018 14:26 - 16 minutes - 22.9 MBManaging Expectations for the Long Term Market conditions aren't within our control. As we continue to experience large swings, I discuss the ways to help investors cope and manage expectations through a low-return period. Program Length: 17 minutes
Bogle's Predictions - Episode 159
December 04, 2018 17:18 - 23 minutes - 32.8 MBJack Bogle, founder of The Vanguard Group, has made bold predictions about the markets for the next ten years. He offers a pessimistic outlook about returns on stock and bonds. I don't simply accept or reject his predictions, instead I analyze them in order to gain proper perspective, and I share my thoughts. Program Length: 24 minutes
A Holiday Gift That Keeps On Giving - Episode 158
November 30, 2018 13:40 - 20 minutes - 28.6 MBA Holiday Gift That Keeps On Giving Want to jump-start the financial future of a young person this holiday season? There’s a unique gift you may want to consider, a Roth IRA. There are just a few restrictions, but the money will grow tax-free for decades and could even be used for a first-time home purchase. Program Length:20 minutes
The Money Side of Wealth - Episode 157
November 26, 2018 23:23 - 14 minutes - 20 MBI discuss how wealth comes in many forms and means different things to different people. I then talk about the various professions within the world of money management to help you determine the most suitable professional for your individual situation. Program Length: 15 minutes
Tax Savings by Paying Advisory Fees From Your IRA Account - Episode 156
November 20, 2018 19:27 - 5 minutes - 7.65 MBA Tax Saving Twist New tax law ended deductions on advisory fees. I discuss how you can get tax savings from a long-held qualified retirement account rule allowing you to pay your financial advisor’s fee out of your IRA account with no tax or penalty, but there are some restrictions you should consider. Program Length: 6 minutes
Market Volatility - Episode 155
November 16, 2018 14:58 - 43 minutes - 60.2 MBCoping with Market Volatility Today, we focus the entire program on recent market volatility with Joe Cortese of the Cordasco Financial Network Investment Team. We discuss the factors driving volatility, and how to best position investments for today’s market conditions. We focus on strategies covering stock and bond investing and offer guidance in determining the right mix of domestic and international investments for a well diversified portfolio. Program Length: 43 minutes
Retirement Account Update- Episode 154
November 13, 2018 14:52 - 19 minutes - 26.3 MBRetirement Account Update CPA Tim Joseph of the Cordasco Financial Network team joins me for a discussion on IRA’s and 401 K’s, and the increase in contribution amounts for 2019. Program Length: 19 minutes