Blog Posts

By Marc C. Shaffer

Over the past few months, I have participated in six weddings. My guess is not a single one of the happy couples had Social Security spousal benefits in mind as they made the decision to merge their lives, both spiritually and financially. Social Security benefits may seem like less of a concern for these young couples; each of them has decades to go before reaching retirement age. However, for couples currently nearing retirement, the choices they make regarding Social Security can have a dramatic impact on their financial future.

By: Marc C. Shaffer

As you and your spouse near retirement, have you considered if filing and suspending your Social Security benefits makes sense for your needs and lifestyle? You can only file and suspend benefits if you are at or above full retirement age, but the act allows your spouse to begin collecting spousal benefits, while your benefit accumulates delayed retirement credits. The ability to receive a higher monthly payout before activating your full retirement benefits is an attractive option to many couples, but it is helpful to have an advisor walk you through the specifics before you make a decision.

By: Michael J. Searcy

When a law firm was told they needed to pay $40,000 into their cash balance plan to cover a non-highly compensated individual, they decided a financial second opinion might be beneficial. After meeting with an advisor that helped interpret the language they didn’t understand from their actuary, they knew their second opinion request had paid off. They discovered they could classify the employee in a more appropriate way and need only fund about $2,000 to the plan!

Getting a financial second opinion could be one of the most important financial decisions you make this year. Sometimes the findings can solidify the fact that your current advisor is doing a great job, giving you peace of mind about the advisor you have chosen.

By: Michael J. Searcy

Working with a financial advisor requires a great amount of “trust” on your part, but that trust should not be developed based on feelings and verbal promises. Real trust can be built when you follow these 6 guidelines for choosing a financial advisor.

Know their structure.
There is a difference between a stockbroker and a financial advisor. Stockbrokers are in the business of giving advice on investment vehicles, while financial advisors can help with both investment advisement and developing a financial plan to reach your goals. However, some financial advisors may be limited in ways they can help you based on their professional affiliations.

By: Michael J. Searcy

When your children believe they are dealing with someone they know and trust, it can make them more vulnerable to undesirable situations. Did you know you can also fall victim to the “stranger danger” mentality of thinking that the only people who might cause you harm are people you don’t know?

Some Reasons Why People Do Business with Friends Include:
• Friendships are built on trust so you feel that trust would carry over to business
• Their verbal propositions seem caring and genuine
• You believe their knowledge of the industry is equal to others
• They offer you “extras” that non-friends wouldn’t receive

By: Michael J. Searcy

Using money you’ve worked hard to earn on your business makes sense. While other people are spending money on new cars or vacations, you hardly miss the funds you spend on your business because the prize at the end of the spending tunnel is in sight. You can see how the funds are helping to reach your goal of building a successful business.

Treating your retirement fund like another business is a strategy that can help set you up for future success. Payments you make today toward your retirement are funds that can be saved and invested to experience the benefit in the future. Think about why you own your business… Chances are you find joy in watching your business grow, and you expect it to provide a future payoff or benefit after years of dedication and hard work.

By Michael J. Searcy

Every journey you take on an airplane comes with about a 0.0001 percent chance that you won’t arrive at your final destination. With such a small percentage for failure, it’s no surprise people feel secure flying all over the world, every day. Now what if you boarded a plane and the flight attendant came over the speaker saying, “The Federal Aviation Administration has requested we inform you there is now an 85 percent chance of flight failure”? I’m picturing people scrambling for their luggage and pushing their way through the aisles and off the plane.