The Retirement Fix: Less Stress, More Success

When it comes to paying taxes, many people think that owing as little as possible come April means they’ve beaten Uncle Sam. Well, it’s true they may have won the battle, but with that kind of shortsighted thinking, they may not win the war, so to speak. The goal in tax planning is not only to pay fewer taxes in any given year, but to pay as little as possible throughout your lifetime. And sometim...

Last year Americans lost more than $16 Billion dollars to scams. That’s Billion with a B. While many of us believe we are savvy enough to spot a scam, the scammers are often one – or sometimes 2 or 3 – steps ahead. Anyone can become the victim of fraud, but seniors are much more vulnerable and often, have the most to lose. Since October is Cybersecurity Awareness month, I am going to share 10 tips...

Do you need an Asset Protection Trust? If you're not sure, this episode is for you. These are questions I get all the time from clients:  Will I lose my home and everything I've worked for if my spouse or I need fulltime nursing home care?  Do I need an asset protection trust? The answer is not as simple as yes or no. This episode features a special guest - Estate Planning Attorney Patri...

Are you confused about the recently-passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) and what it means for you? You’re not alone. There is a lot to digest in the almost 900-page bill that was signed into law on July 4th.  Of greatest concern seems to be the impact on Social Security income for retirees.  So today I am going to break down the key measures affecting retirees and their families in this speci...

So, you’re looking to retire in the next 5, maybe 10 years, dreaming of life after work - whether that be swimming at the beaches of Florida or hiking in the mountains of New Hampshire, caring for grandchildren, traveling the world or gardening in your own backyard.  You’ve built a nest egg, steadily saving over the years, but it is enough? Will market swings eliminate your security blanket or hel...

Is the financial legacy you leave behind entirely in your control?  The answer to that question may be shocking.  For now, let’s just say “It can be, but only with careful planning and guidance.” Let’s set the scene: You’ve worked hard, saved diligently, and built a solid nest egg in your Individual Retirement Account, or IRA. But one of the most important decisions comes toward the end—who gets i...

Did your Medicare premium suddenly skyrocket? If you think you are paying more than you should, listen up, you may have recourse. But you need to act quickly. Welcome to The Retirement Fix , a podcast for less stress and more success in your go-go retirement years. I’m John Gigliello, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ with the Albany Financial Group and I’m here to be your guide to keeping more of yo...

If you've been watching the financial markets lately, you know that volatility is the name of the game. Prices rise, they fall, and it can feel like you’re riding a rollercoaster at times. But here’s the good news: Volatility doesn’t always have to be a bad thing. In fact, with the right strategy, market downturns and fluctuations can present incredible opportunities for savvy investors. Welc...

Do you know how much are you paying in income taxes nowadays?  if you’re like most retirees, you might be paying more than you need to—and the frustrating part? The IRS isn’t going to tell you how to lower your tax bill! But that’s where I come in. One of the services I offer high net worth retirees is proactive tax planning. We review anticipated income, from all sources, each year and employ str...

As Benjamin Franklin said - there are only two certainties in life, and today, I’m not here to talk about death. If you’re like most people I know, you’re probably frustrated with our tax system.  Whether you feel that your taxes are too high or irritated that our federal, state and local governments waste tax dollars, trust me, you are not alone.  I remember a comedian mentioning one time that he...

Before you file your tax return, listen up! A few important changes this year could put money back in your pocket. Be sure you’re not missing out and tune in as we break down the key updates to the 2025 tax code. Spoiler alert: Not all of the changes will save you money. Hi, I’m John Gigliello, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ with the Albany Financial Group, and you are listening to Invest in Knowl...

  Tax planning is an essential tool in managing finances, especially for the wealthy.  If you are a high-net-worth retiree, looking to maintain the substantial wealth you have accumulated over your lifetime, this podcast episode is for you. Hi, I’m John Gigliello, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ with the Albany Financial Group, and you are listening to Invest in Knowledge, a podcast about all thing...

For the 2023-2024 academic year, the average cost of college, per year , came to $11,260 for public colleges, if the student lives in-state, and $41,543 for a private university, according to college data.com. When you factor in room and board, those figures almost double at some institutions. These staggering figures leave many families to fret and wonder if they can possibly pay for higher educa...

The word Fiduciary has become a buzzword in the financial industry over the last few years, but what does it really mean? An investment fiduciary is a person, or entity, that has a legal and ethical responsibility to act in the best interest of their clients when managing their investments. This obligation requires the investment professional to prioritize the client’s interests above their own wh...

Investors are missing out on billions of dollars when they switch jobs.  The reason is that many end up pulling their retirement savings out of the stock market—often without meaning to. This was the subject of a recent Wall Street Journal article which I think is important to talk about today. Many workers, when changing jobs, roll their 401k balances out of the employer plan and into an Individu...

For more than a decade, savings accounts offered little to no interest, making it near impossible to keep up with inflation. But in recent years, the tides have turned, if you know where to look. If you have extra cash on hand and want to start an emergency fund or a nest egg—a high-yield savings account can be a great option, providing an easy way to build your savings, with virtually no risk. Hi...

If someone told you about an investment that has made some people millionaires overnight and has both a number of high-profile supporters and a global reach, would you be tempted to invest? If you were then told that the same investment also could lose most or all of its value almost overnight, and you might not have access to your money when you need it, how would it sound now? You've just c...

Accidents happen. They just do.  Your foot slips and you press the gas pedal when you meant to brake.  Your child hits a line drive through a neighbor’s window during baseball practice. Your dog panics and bites a stranger. The question is: are you adequately prepared to handle these situations - specifically the economic consequences of these situations - when and if they occur? Hi, I’m John Gigl...

Picture this:  Your wife or partner and you are driving along one day, rushing about to tackle the numerous errands you have planned for the busy morning.  Back home, your two daughters are working to finalize their plans for a birthday party for their favorite uncle.  Your errands take you all over town, and the Saturday morning traffic is starting to build.  And then suddenly, in the blink of an...

The choices for Medicare coverage can be overwhelming and mistakes people make when choosing Medicare options can be costly for a lifetime.  In this episode, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ John Gigliello talks with local industry expert Chris Amorosi about  how to avoid the 5 most common mistakes people make when choosing a Medicare plan.

Interest rates have never looked better for savers. But you shouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket, or in this case, CD. With the Federal Reserve’s recent quarter percentage point rate hike, interest rates have reached a new high. At 5.25% to 5.5%, this is the highest the benchmark federal funds rate has been since 2002.  This era of higher interest rates makes borrowing money expensive, but it...

Making economic forecasts and stock market predictions can be humbling. It’s especially tough when you expect stocks to go higher and get a big drop instead. The environment today is the opposite, but still tricky, as recession hasn’t followed the chorus of predictions. In some ways, figuring out what to do now that stocks have gone up is as difficult as considering what to do when stocks are down...

Inheriting a house can be a blessing. OR a curse. The difference is in the PLANNING as there will be tough emotional and financial decisions to make when the time comes. Hi, I’m John Gigliello, Certified Financial Planner with the Albany Financial Group and you’re listening to Invest in Knowledge , a podcast about all things financial. After a life-altering health issue at age 39, my calling in li...

The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019, popularly known as the SECURE Act, was signed into law in late 2019. Now called SECURE Act 1.0, it included provisions that raised the requirement for mandatory distributions from retirement accounts and increased access to retirement accounts. But it didn’t take long for Congress to enhance the landmark bill that was enacted b...

Record high home prices and escalating mortgage rates are combining forces to put home ownership out of reach for some Americans. In fact, May of this year was the most expensive month since 2006 to buy a home, according to the National Association of Realtors’ housing affordability index. The affordability index, which takes into account median existing home prices, median family incomes and aver...