Your Life Your Wealth

March 5, 2021

Cordasco Financial Network’s Director of Business Development John Walker sits in for Steve today and is joined by CFN Relationship Manager and Financial Advisor Desiree Reil.  In commemorating International Women’s Day this week, they discuss the unique investing and retirement challenges faced by women today and cover several strategies to help female investors overcome some of the often significant disadvantages they face.

February 26, 2021

401k plans are the focus of today’s podcast.  Steve is joined by Cordasco Financial Network Retirement Plan Specialist Dennis Jablonoski.  They offer insight and guidance for employees who participate in a 401k plan and for business owners or managers responsible for overseeing their company’s plan.  They discuss contribution limits, permissible catch-up contributions, the value of an employer match, consumer protections, new 401k rules for 2021 and more.

February 20, 2021

The price of bitcoin has surged 350% in just the last six months as major investors and large companies have begun to adopt its use.  Average investors have taken notice and see it as a potential opportunity.  Today we discuss bitcoin, one specific form of cryptocurrency, grabbing the headlines. Steve is joined by Cordasco Financial Network’s Client Service Specialist Evan Salter and Steve Proffer, a member of CFN’s Investment Committee. Evan helps us understand what bitcoin actually is, how the technology works and why its been so readily embraced by younger investors. Steve Proffer offers perspective on bitcoin’s appropriateness for inclusion in an investor’s long-term portfolio as well as what may be driving large companies to accept bitcoin as currency.

February 12, 2021

The current economic conditions have created the need to change some of the investments used to build portfolios at Cordasco Financial Network. Our new investment allocation will have a significant impact on our bond investing. We’re taking a proactive stance, and using a strategy that includes a more actively managed dynamic bond portfolio. Today, Steve is joined by CFN Financial Planner Ryan Flurer to discuss the reasons for change and detail much of the work that goes into architecting an investment portfolio specifically designed and maintained to meet the ongoing needs of each individual investor.

February 6, 2021

Cordasco Financial Network’s John Walker guides a discussion with CFN CPAs Tim Joseph and Jim Tate discussing important tax considerations for your 2020 IRS tax filing.  The COVID-19 pandemic has had a financial impact in several areas that will need special attention from you and your tax preparer this year to ensure the accuracy of your return.

January 29, 2021

As a good David vs. Goliath story usually does. Share prices were driven up by small individual investors using the social media platform called Reddit.  It was an organized effort that resulted in many large hedge fund managers, who had shorted these companies, to experience significant losses as their stock values skyrocketed.  CFN’s John Walker is joined by Larry Shaw from the CFN Investment Committee and Financial Planner and CFN technology manager Ryan Flurer. They discuss what happened, why it is significant, how the technology was used and what future implications this kind of activity may, or may not, have on investors like you.

January 22, 2021

For many Americans, social security will be an integral part of retirement cash flow. We’ve paid into the system all of our working lives and we expect to collect our benefits. In order to make that happen, a sound social security strategy is essential for all of us entering our retirement years.  Determining the best age to begin taking benefits, understanding the tax implications for your unique situation, and many other factors go into making the best social security decisions. Cordasco Financial Network CPA Tim Joseph and Financial Planner Ryan Flurer share information you need to know to maximize your social security benefits and they discuss the CFN tools they use to help in the process.

January 14, 2021

Today, Steve is joined by Chartered Financial Analyst and Market Strategist Stephen Proffer of the Investment Team at Cordasco Financial Network.  They discuss our recently released report 2021 Outlook: Poised for Growth. Their discussion is centered around the direction stocks and bonds may take during 2021 given our current and expected economic conditions. They also discuss the often-asked question about the appropriateness of cryptocurrencies in an average investor’s portfolio.

January 8, 2021

In this week’s podcast, Steve discusses why it’s important to understand and embrace the reality that there are many aspects of our financial lives we simply cannot control. For example, the direction of the financial markets, or the degree to which we will be impacted by tax increases aren’t things we can influence. Therefore, our efforts and attention need to be focused on those things we can control. Steve explains several strategic financial moves to help us be prepared, and lessen any potential negative impact from things outside of our control.  

December 31, 2020

Steve is joined by Financial Advisor and CPA Tim Joseph of the CFN team to discuss the latest information on the federal government’s next iteration of the Payroll Protection Program, known as PPP.  The program directly impacts business owners, but Steve also explains how PPP affects the overall economy and ultimately the wealth of all Americans.  Then, the discussion turns to estate tax planning, capital gains, the gift tax and more. With the Biden economic team undoubtedly seeking changes to our existing tax laws, careful planning is now more important than ever. Steve and Tim discuss several strategies.