Retirement 360

According to the Stock Trader’s Almanac, in years preceding presidential elections since 1971, the July-October span marked the worst four months. The Dow and the S&P 500 index have tended to peak in July, bounced around in the next couple of months, and dropped in October, ending with losses by Halloween. Should some of us go into “financial hiding” for a while? Did you know that you could get a "do-over" on social security? An obscure tax law allows you to restart your benefits at a new, higher rate based on your current age. This week Alan talks a bit more about this tax law and how you can use it to potentially increase your social security.

The economy is currently in a good spot... but the Federal Reserve is cutting interest rates? Is this normal? Alan walks you through the traditional process the Federal Reserve follows when it comes to interest rates and explains why the Federal Reserve has decided to cut rates. Did you know that according to a survey from Nationwide Retirement Institute fewer than 1 in 4 people can name the four factors that will determine the amount they will get from Social Security? This week we're explaining the four factors that effect how much you get back from Social Security and share why it's so crucial you're cognizant of everything within the equation.

When you sit down with a financial advisor, one of the main reasons you do so is to find out if and when you're able to retire. When you're trying to decide that, what factors are you looking at? Alan goes through some of the main factors that help make this decision and talks about the questions he asks in his planning process. Did you know that about 20% of Americans over the age of 65 are still working? This is the highest this number has been since 1962. While some of those people are working by choice, their is a chunk of them that simply can't afford do retire and Alan shares his thoughts on this topic.

Is another recession coming? How can you protect yourself? A new study from Allianz Life says that 48% of middle class americans fear a major recession, which is higher than it was last quarter. What are you doing to prepare? The Street is calling for a "Target Income Fund" to be created, but what does it do? Alan walks us through what the creation of the fund would accomplish and how it would benefit investors already in retirement. If you had at least a million bucks in your various accounts, would you consider yourself to be “wealthy”? Ameriprise Financial put that question to a group of people who each have between one-and-five million dollars…and the overwhelming majority (83%) said they don’t feel wealthy. Why do you think that is?

This Sunday, tune in to Retirement360 with MWA advisor Alan Mercurio and host, Randy Cook, as they take on the latest tending news. Are you planning to celebrate Bobby Bonilla Day? Better yet, did you know that even though he retired from baseball in 2001, Bobby Bonilla still receives a check for $1,193,248.20 from the New York Mets on the first of every July? Are you receiving the right financial advice for your retirement? Forbes says the financial advice people use in their working years is not necessarily the best choice to help them as they approach retirement. What advice are you receiving? And, will you really spend more during your retirement? S. Katherine Roy, a strategist for J.P. Morgan, seems to have a pretty strong opinion about the subject.

This Sunday, tune in to Retirement360 with MWA advisor Alan Mercurio and host, Randy Cook, as they take on the latest tending news. How much of of your salary do you need to save? 10 times or even 16 times? Are the writers at Motley Fool correct? What and who are you supposed to believe? Have you done a "Stress Test" on your retirement plan, and what does that entail? And, how does citizenship play a role in your taxes? New Royal baby, Archie, could face an interesting dilemma.

Often, we at MWA discuss the term Retirement Plan. Your Retirement Plan is unique to you, your goals, your needs, and your family's wants. There are ways to achieve these goals, and there are some myths that need to be addressed because they may not be the most viable options. This week on Retirement360, MWA advisor Alan Mercurio and host, Randy Cook, highlight some common fallacies on securing your retirement goal: •Relying on your home as a source of income •Only relying on Social Security •Relying on lottery winnings •Relying on inheritance from a deceased relative

Check in with Louisville's Retirement Coach, Alan Mercurio, and his friends as they discuss news and how it may affect your planning.

This week on Retirement360, MWA advisor Alan Mercurio and host, Randy Cook, dive in to the importance of finding the right financial advisor and why you would consider meeting one sooner rather than later. At MWA, we focus on education and the necessary steps families need to take to make sure their retirement is sound. Planning for retirement is more than taking your last of work - it is ensuring your life becomes what you want, not what it has to be. Learning about investments, insurance, Social Security timing, tax preparation and having an estate plan all tie together for the stress free future most families seek.

Following the guidance of ultra-investors like Warren Buffett, one wonders how everyday families could practice their beliefs. Beyond picking the right investments and wanting to grow your accounts - Buffet seems to advocate protection even more. “There are too many investors on Wall Street who measure performance based solely on the returns gained. A better measure would be risk-adjusted return. Do not strive to generate every-last dime of profit, if you do so, you expose yourself to unnecessary and harmful RISK. Rather, it is more advisable to make capital preservation one of your leading goals.” Does that apply to you and your beliefs? Are you also a DIYer when it comes to managing your finances? According to a recent CNBC poll, over 75% manage their own money and are using Google as their adjunct advisor. What are the top questions they are asking? How much do I need to retire? How to retire early When can I retire? Alan will add to this list and urge the DIYers to even meet with an advisor, as having

Are financial services moving towards a Netflix-like subscription model? Maybe. Schwab had recently announced it will charge a $30 monthly fee for "unlimited advisory services, and automatic trades." While this might sound appealing to some, these clients will not have the benefit of custom planning, income planning or tax and estate planning. Robo Advisors might be easier - but are they better? This week on Retirement360 MWA advisor, Alan Mercurio, and host, Randy Cook, discuss new trends as companies (and the government) grow and develop with their retired audience. What worked in the past, might now be the best option for the future.

Every day we meet families who all have similar questions or expectations for their retirement. While we know two families are not the same, there are a few questions they all seem to ask: What about fees? Who and what are being paid? We dive into the three most common groups of fees: Administrative fees, Investment fees, and Individual service fees Am I being taxed on Social Security? Yes, since 1983 and again in 1993, income tiers were created that formerly only applied to a small group of seniors, now it applies to at least 51% of families - because the base income never accommodated inflation. Moving from too aggressive to too conservative in your investments. Once you're older, it's wise to shift some of your investments from riskier vehicles like stocks to safer ones like bonds. But that doesn't mean you should dump all your stocks. Americans are living longer these days, with 25% of today's 65-year-olds making it past the age of 90.

Taxes - Pensions - And knowing your Risks! by Alan Mercurio

This week on Retirement360, MWA advisor Alan Mercurio returns with host, Randy Cook and they take on one last trick before you file your taxes - putting money away in your traditional IRA and it will still count for last year. How is it possible? You'll soon find out! Personal finance guru, Suze Orman, says it's not the first 10-15 years of retirement that should concern you, its the following 10-15 years. Alan and Randy discuss strategies to making your retirement last.

This week on Retirement360, MWA advisor Troy Bolton and host, Randy Cook are talking taxes - but with a focus on what to do when YOU are the beneficiary. Many families will set up tax efficient legacies for your loved ones, but what happens when you inherit a 401(k)? How do you roll over the assets? How can you prolong RMDs? And most importantly, how do you navigate the taxes? We often discuss the importance of a good retirement plan and it is more than just income. Troy and Randy determine the 5 elements to make sure you are set for the future. A solid income plan An investment plan A tax- efficient plan A health care plan A legacy plan

This week on Retirement360 MWA advisor Alan Mercurio and host, Randy Cook take on three of the biggest concerns facing retirees today: Social Security, taxes and advisor fees. An easy way to maximize your SSI benefit is to simply wait it out and withdraw as late as possible. However, waiting until you are 70 is not always the best option for some families. Alan and Randy tackle the thought process of selecting the best approach to start receiving your benefits. As April 15th approaches, many families are filing taxes and meeting with their CPAs. Do you have a "Tax Bomb" lurking in your accounts? What might a traditional IRA, savings bond and your home all have in common? Tune in to find out! Did you know that someone who pays a two-percent fee on their 401(k) will run out of money ten years sooner than those who pay a one percent fee?

2019 Best of Alan Mercurio by Alan Mercurio

This week Mercurio Wealth Advisors Founder and President, Alan Mercurio, and host Randy Cook, discuss the importance of knowing your Risk Tolerance. What is Risk Tolerance? It is the ebb and flows you feel secure taking with the swings of the market. Almost everyone feels secure when the market climbs, but what when it dips? How much of your investment are you to miss? Knowing your Risk Tolerance is paramount to your overall planning strategy. This sets a bar that will intersect with all other saving strategies. In addition to knowing the importance of your Risk Tolerance, is your planning up to date or is it obsolete? Listening to music on a CD used to be the standard, but now? Streaming. Do similar shifts in trends also apply to financial planning? Yes!

How do you know when it is the right time to see a financial advisor? Everyone who owns a car knows to bring it to a mechanic when it needs a tune up, so why not apply that same logic to your finances? Why are families hesitant to use the guidance of a finance professional? By meeting with a financial advisor, even for one discussion, you may open the door to new opportunities to learn more about your savings strategies, your planning strategies and even discover ways to make your assets work for you. Whether it is learning how to create a paycheck once your stop working, or lowering taxes, or finding ways that you may be overspending, working with an advisor will put you on a track to a successful retirement. Plan today, for a better tomorrow.

Is there such a thing as an average retirement? Surveys show that most folks will retire around 61 years old, and then experience 20+ of retirement! If we could know exactly how long our retirement would last - it would make for much easier planning. The average spend is $46,000 per household and that is mainly divided between monthly expenses of housing ($1,322), health care ($500) and food ($484.) But since one cannot predict the future - how do you plan? How do you take your savings and assets to get the most of your hard-earned work?