Your Life Your Wealth

May 13, 2022

As market volatility and inflation continue to dominate our consciousness, Steve Cordasco, Director and Senior Wealth Advisor at Cordasco Financial Network, Mercer Advisors, shares his insights on current economic conditions. Steve also illustrates the differences between market corrections, which we’ve experienced several times recently, and a bear market. He offers historical perspective, views on what may lie ahead, and he discusses some defensive moves you may want to consider to help ease your personal financial anxieties.

May 6, 2022

Some people have amassed great wealth and live modestly, while others let their lifestyle reflect their significant wealth. A financial “Catch 22” for living in retirement is often finding the right lifestyle balance to suit both your ability to enjoy what you’ve saved and maintain careful spending so you don’t outlive your money. CFN’s John Walker and Ryan Flurer discuss ways to address the financial and psychological challenges of spending during your retired years and what role good planning plays in the process.

April 29, 2022

Stock and bond markets, interest rates, and inflation take center stage as Steve Cordasco talks with Don Calcagni, MBA, MST, CFP®, AIF®, Chief Investment Officer at Mercer Advisors. They take a deep dive into how current volatile market conditions impact your portfolio design.

April 22, 2022

There are distinct differences between the money management needs of men and women. Women also have particular retirement planning needs. Pay disparity, career pauses for child or elder care, and the fact that women, most-often, live longer than men create unique challenges. The convergence of these facts help us better understand why women often have quite different planning requirements when compared their male counterparts. CFN’s John Walker welcomes Kara Duckworth, CFP®, CDFA®, Managing Director of Client Experience at Mercer Advisors. They discuss financial and retirement planning specifically designed to address the needs of women.

April 15, 2022

Purchasing a home without a mortgage is increasingly common in today’s hot real estate market. Investors owning cryptocurrency is not unusual. The IRS, of course, has taken notice and is increasing scrutiny of these and other financial activities to make certain you pay your fair share of taxes. Ian Comisky, partner in the law firm of Fox Rothschild, author and law professor at the University of Pennsylvania joins today’s podcast. Ian joins Steve Cordasco each year at this time to discuss new tax law, forthcoming federal regulations and IRS enforcement.

April 8, 2022

Encouraging news for retirement savers may be coming, thanks to SECURE Act 2.0 legislation. The acronym stands for Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement. This is a follow-up to the original SECURE Act that passed with bipartisan support in Congress a couple of years back. Today, Steve Cordasco details many provisions of the bill aimed at making saving for retirement easier and more beneficial to an even larger pool of participants.

April 1, 2022

Over the last 2 years we’ve experienced a boom in the housing market with prices and demand at an all-time high, and interest rates and inventory at historic lows. Now, mortgage rates are beginning rise. CFN’s John Walker is joined by Dr. Jessica Lautz, Vice President of Demographics and Behavioral Insights for the National Association of Realtors. They discuss the current state of the housing market and how home values may be impacted, if interest rates continue to rise.

March 25, 2022

The Fed has started to increase interest rates, and it may be a good time for you to gain a better understanding of the role bonds play in your investment or retirement portfolio. Cordasco Financial Network’s John Walker is joined by Dennis Jablonoski of our Investment Team and Financial Planner Ryan Flurer. They discuss the appropriate use of bonds and bond funds in your portfolio, and offer clarity on the recently increased attention being given to bond alternatives.

March 18, 2022

Recent market volatility resulting from the pandemic, inflation and now the Russian invasion of Ukraine has become a wake-up call for many. For several years, the stock market seemed to be going nowhere but up.  Investor’s confidence in a rising stock market had caused some to more heavily invest in equities. Now may be a good time to take a careful look at your investment mix. Cordasco Financial Network’s John Walker is joined by Tim Joseph CFP® and CPA to discuss the need to ensure that the investment risk you’re taking across all of your accounts, including your 401k, is aligned with your risk tolerance.

March 11, 2022

At Cordasco Financial Network we are frequently asked about the use of trusts in estate planning. There are many scenarios where a trust is the most appropriate means of passing wealth to your heirs. Setting up a trust can be cost effective and it is available to everyone regardless of the size of their estate. Trusts avoid probate, offer tax advantages and allow you to keep control of your assets. For details on the many benefits of using trusts in estate planning, we’re joined by a guest from Mercer Advisors. John Walker welcomes Attorney Jeremiah Barlow, Executive Vice President and Head of Family Wealth Services at Mercer Advisors.