Retirement 360

Many in our community are a DIY - do it yourself - when it comes to their own finances. But, is there a line at which you should consider asking for help in managing your assets? Are the DIYers choosing their best options and strategies? - Are they putting too much trust in a "Target Date Fund"? - Do they know they know what option is the best to pull money from SS or IRA? - Should you invest the majority of your assets in the stock market? - And how much of your SS do you actually get to keep? Some say, once you reach 250k in assets, you should consider meeting with an advisor. This week on Retirement360 MWA Advisor, Alan and host, Tony Vanetti, discuss these questions and more. The benefits of having an advisor can sometimes outweigh the costs, and also ease your piece of mind. Knowing you have a trusted Fiduciary working for your best interests that can help navigate the expansive financial industry might be something to consider - even for the DIYer.

We hear recurring topics when listening to our community and their fears of planning for retirement: Will I have enough income saved? How much income do I need to maintain my lifestyle? What happens if I get sick and need long-term care? What happens if there are cuts to Social Security? While our advisors do not have a crystal ball, they can assist with planning ahead and trying to prevent a disruption should an event occur that may affect your financial future. They assist in creating the solutions to combat your worries. This week, on Retirement 360, MWA advisors Alan and Troy, with host, Tony Vanetti touch on ways on how to start planning, when to start planning, and what to consider or ask your advisor as you approach your retirement. There are no dumb concerns, and they are no dumb questions. Whether you are an expert, or a novice, the MWA advisors are here to help. Tune in for so much more!

When is the right time to retire? Is it solely based on age? When you have exhausted your role at work? Could it be due to family obligations or even sickness? Are you maximizing your Social Security to receive the best benefit? Are you following your risk tolerance to make sure your investments are sound - whether it's for an annual or long-term return? What should you be asking your advisor, and what should your advisor be asking you?

For many, leaving a legacy to your spouse, family or charity is built within your long term planning. But more than just assigning a beneficiary, your legacy will need to project market inflation, routine audits and even thinking outside the box of just your assigning your assets. Mercurio Advisor, Alan will chat with host, Tony Vanetti and go over ways to maintain and grow your legacy, account for market changes, and even add items like your airline miles!

There is no crystal ball, there are no tea leaves and there are no fortune tellers to fully explain what the future holds. But families, with the help of their advisors, can prepare for both the blue and grey skies when it comes to protecting and growing their assets. In retirement, you will need to navigate where that future paycheck will come from, and ensure it will last as long as it needs too. Is a lifetime income possible? Yes. Will it need modifications along the way? Yes, especially should there be new tax changes that will affect your assets. Will you be able to protect that income outside of storing your cash in just your checking account? Yes. This Sunday, Mercurio Advisor's Alan and Troy will chat with host, Tony Vanetti and go over ways to maintain your income and opportunities to see it protected, and grow - no matter the color of the skies.

"We can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone," said Ronald Reagan. At MWA, we pride ourselves combining our experiences and learning from the daily trends when it comes to creating the best path to retirement for our clients. Every day, we help our clients navigate some of their biggest questions and concerns and even steer them away from potentially bad habits that might affect their futures. We meet with families who have fallen in love with a certain stock, and they just can't seem to let go no matter that outcome. Or, we identify ways in making their nest egg last and thrive. Or, creating budgets so they enter their retirement as debt free as possible - and not just lowering credit card debt, but also mortgages and school loans.

Often, the MWA advisors hear these questions from our community. The top three concerns are: How much income will I need? When will I take out Social Security? How do I select my retirement date? There is no one plan that applies to everyone in the same way. That is why it is so important to have a game plan in place. Some families will want to maintain their current standard of living, other might want to hitch up a Winnebago and hit the open road. That is why an individualized plan is so important. These two families will have different goals and will require different strategies. Depending on your goals and the needs of your family, you should be asking yourself how can you get there. By working with an advisor, and one who is a fiduciary, they will help lay the course to a stress-free retirement, making sure all your needs are covered along the way.

It is a fairly simple question but unfortunately, the answer can be long, complicated and layered. Retirement planning is different for everyone and for every family. No one solution is exactly applicable even if situations are similar. Investing in the stock market might yield greater rewards than a low-index fund, but your openness to risk is also much higher. Men and women invest differently, so who is the driving force in your family's planning, and are all needs being met? Is your advisor advocating for the both of you equally and or are they applying a cure-all to both partners? We as a community might share in the struggle of national financial events, so are we to all have the same plan in place? The short answer is no. Founder and President of Mercurio Wealth Advisors, Alan Mercurio, and advisor Troy Bolton, with host, Tony Vanetti speak openly about the challenges facing families when it comes to finding the right path for them. As life changes, and goes through ups and downs, are you prepared fo

Sounds reasonable, right? If you promise a friend the wedding cake of their dreams but show up with a box of lumpy cupcakes and a faltering smile…someone’s not going to have a good day. Ever been on a trip and the driver assures you that they “know a shortcut” to bypass traffic that ends up getting you three hours off-schedule? Maybe you’ve taken on a big project at work before, confident that you could exceed expectations, but slowly find yourself struggling just to keep your head above the sea of work you’ve stranded yourself in. The problem across the board in these scenarios? Someone promised more than they could guarantee—and disaster resulted for all parties involved. Promising more than what can be delivered is a trend we see time and time again in the financial world, especially when it comes to pensions and 401(k)s. This week on Retirement 360 with Kentuckiana’s Retirement Coach Alan Mercurio, we’re going to be discussing how both of those income streams come loaded with potential problems for retir

On this Father’s Day, consider this: “My father had taught me – mostly by example—that if a man wanted to be in charge of his life, he had to be in charge of his problems.” The line comes from Joyland, a novel penned by one of the famous masters of horror, Stephen King. A father of three himself, King’s characters are known for facing down their problems—albeit often in the form of a killer clown or murderous Plymouth Fury. Most of us grew up with a father that was a solid rock to rely on when bills started piling up or life problems seemed endless. We carry this idea of our father with us throughout our lives, and ask for their sacred armchair wisdom even into our adult years (but not when the big game is on, of course.) This week on Retirement 360, Kentuckiana’s Retirement Coach Alan Mercurio and wealth advisor, Troy Bolton will be discussing how taking this lesson passed on by our fathers can have a huge impact in the financial world. When you start looking at retirement, it can seem overwhelming—but wit

With summer finally here after our extended winter season, most of us are hitting the lake or hopping on an airplane to far-off lands (or Florida, which we’ll still say is far-off.) Have you ever thought about how much planning really goes into a vacation? There’s tickets to buy, suitcases to pack, pet sitters to arrange, and a whole host of to-do activities before you can set off. Whether you’re a fit-it-all-in-one-backpack type or playing Tetris to fit all 6 of your suitcases into your car’s trunk, all of us have a game plan for our getaways. This week on Retirement 360 with Kentuckiana’s Retirement Coach Alan Mercurio and Wealth Advisor Troy Bolton, we’re going to discuss how planning for retirement is just like planning for a trip. This week it’s all about budgets—and if thinking about the differences in a pre-retirement versus retirement budget haven’t crossed your mind, this is the show for you. Having a firm idea of your monthly expenses will ultimately make sure that you’re not running out of money

"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest. " -Benjamin Franklin. Education is paramount as you begin and maintain your retirement planning. The more you can learn, they better you and your family can better prepare. This week's radio show will feature MWA advisor's Alan Mercurio, Troy Bolton and also host, Tony Vanetti as they discuss how to avoid the “tax time bomb” with your investments. At what age should you begin your retirement planning? And, preparing for the shift from working full time to full time retirement.

"Everything old is new again." This week's radio show will feature a "Best of Retirement 360" highlights with MWA advisor's Alan Mercurio, Troy Bolton and also host, Tony Vanetti. They discuss the importance and need for a financial advisor, that just maybe following your parent's advice on financial issues may not be the best idea, how to navigate volatility, and what you can expect with the 2018 tax plan - will filing actually be easier?

The stock market can be a complex creature to understand. You might have incredible gains for a few years, and then suddenly in a few months you’ve lost all that success through a bad market. There’s an old saying that paints the market as an escalator, steadily climbing in the good years….yet it may suddenly transform into a plummeting elevator, ruining all the upward progress you just had. This week on Retirement 360 with Kentuckiana’s Retirement Coach Alan Mercurio and Wealth Advisor Troy Bolton, we’re going to discuss how having your entire nest egg on that upward elevator might seem like a good idea…until it all inevitably takes a trip downwards. Have you examined your accounts to see what risk level your retirement is sitting at—and if so, is that risk level you’re at now a solid choice for you in the long run? Do you know what options you can use to diversify your portfolio, mixing some riskier moves alongside secure investments?

Humorist Erma Bombeck once penned in her weekly newspaper column that, “When your mother asks, ‘Do you want a piece of advice?’ it is a mere formality. It doesn’t matter if you answer yes or no. You’re going to get it anyway.” As many of us celebrate our mothers this coming Sunday, think back to a time you received motherly words of wisdom—requested or not. Insight given across the dinner table or yelled from wooden porches as streetlights began to brighten can stick with us for decades, and might even have a place in your retirement planning. This week on Retirement 360 with Kentuckiana’s Retirement Coach Alan Mercurio, we’re asking our listeners to think back to the financial lessons handed down by mothers. Women entering motherhood find themselves in a variety of financial circumstances. Some choose to stay-at-home to handle childcare, while others dually juggle being a full-time mom and holding a full-time job in the workforce. Some take the lead on financial matters, while others prefer to shift their f

With Derby right around the corner, many of us will spend this week gearing up for the big show on Saturday—even if all that means is sipping on Mint Juleps and eating Derby pie at in front of your TV. Thousands both on and off the track will be watching to see which swift equine competitor will be the first to cross the finish line. One thing you can be sure of regardless of where you watch is that the participants—both horse and human—have put in hundreds of hours in training, planning, and commitment just to get a place in the gate. Derby horses, after all, only get one shot to win the roses when they are three-years-old. Believe it or not, this is a lot like your retirement! This week on Retirement 360 with Kentuckiana’s Retirement Coach Alan Mercurio and wealth advisor Troy Bolton, we’re going to be discussing why not putting in that same dedication and focus towards your retirement may land you in last place. Even if you’ve got a million dollars sitting in your nest egg, that doesn’t necessarily guara

Founder and President, Alan Mercurio speaks with the host, Tony Vanetti. They cover topics like following the same financial footsteps as your parents, filing taxes, creating a secure plan that strikes back at volatility, and what to expect for healthcar costs.

Think of all the times you've put together a plan. Small things need a plan--a house project you swore you'd get to next summer, a fancy cake to impress your family at Thanksgiving. I'm sure you planned for the bigger tasks in life as well-what career you wanted, when to buy a house, whether to have kids or not. Did things always go according to the plan you originally set out? For most of us, the answer is a resounding, "No." What if you landed your dream job and ended up discovering you fit better elsewhere? Maybe the fancy cake ended up tasting awful, and you had to go back to the drawing board before placing it on the table. In short: life happens, plans change. This week on Retirement 360 with Kentuckiana's Retirement Coach Alan Mercurio and Wealth Advisor Troy Bolton, we're going to be discussing how your retirement might face challenges even once you've gotten a plan together-but how you can be ready to face them. If you avoid adjusting your plans for what life throws at you, you'll only end up regr

As springtime gradually makes its appearance in the Kentuckiana area, many of us have started to think about what house projects we want to get done before winter comes around again. You've probably seen one of the many fix-it-up housing shows that have had a huge boost in popularity in recent years. The idea is generally the same across the board: a couple or a team of people purchase a "fixer upper" house. In the span of an hour the group rapidly transforms a rickety shack, run-down two-story, or cheerless split level into a housing masterpiece. While it's fun to watch, shows like these don't have time to go over the weeks of work or countless people who pitched in to finish everything that needed to be done. The projects they take on aren't things that can be fixed in a snap-and neither are financial problems if you don't face them head on. This week on Retirement 360 with Kentuckiana's Retirement Coach Alan Mercurio, we're going to be discussing how you can't ever let your retirement plan get to a poin

Easter is hopping closer and families will celebrate this weekend. Whether it's an egg hunt with your grandkids, ham and turkey with family and friends, or quiet time with a hobby you love, remember that these moments are what you want to replicate in the future. Live your life your way, today and tomorrow!