Tag: Financial Advisor

Crafting Profitable Real Estate Investments with Jessica Sigmund

Crafting Profitable Real Estate Investments with Jessica Sigmund

Managing Partner and host of WealthStyle, Iván Watanabe sits down with Jessica Sigmund, a Licensed Real Estate Agent to explore the world of Airbnb and real estate investments in the tri-state area. Listen as she shares insights into housing market trends, how to make your real estate investments work for you, and tips on managing Airbnb properties effectively.

This episode unpacks the following:

  • The current real estate market and trends in the tri-state area
  • Key strategies for buying, selling, and investing in real estate 
  • Success stories and challenges in the Airbnb market
  • The importance of staging and managing rental properties
  • Understanding the risks and benefits of property investment
  • And more

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About Jessica Sigmund:

When Jessica Sigmund thinks about real estate, the first words that come to mind aren’t “appraisal,” “closing cost,” or ” adjustable-rate mortgage.” For her, the most important element of real estate is the “human element”. It’s what first sparked her passion for real estate when she was a young girl marveling at the inherent beauty and architecture of homes she saw daily. It’s what incentivized her to join her aunt’s management company, DeLaurentis Management, and work her way up the ranks, learning every component of the industry, until she eventually became a real estate agent. And it’s what makes her a known, loved, and trusted agent who was honored with the Rookie of the Year award in 2018.

One of the most important reasons that home buyers and sellers alike rely on Jessica is because, beyond her knowledge, integrity, sincerity, and business acumen, her top priority is understanding and delivering on her client’s needs. Many individuals enter the extremely overwhelming process of home buying with a dream home and have no idea how to find it. Jessica’s steady commitment to learning every aspect of her client’s goals and her poise under pressure make the experience enjoyable and seamless. Most of all, Jessica’s passion for Real Estate is surpassed only by her desire to help others, because she values the trust her clients place in her to guide them through one of the most important decisions of their lives. She avails herself to clients at any time, ensures that the lines of communication are open and consistent, and offers patience and attentive guidance throughout the process.

Common Tax Mistakes for Business Owners and How to Avoid Them With Mike Nulty

Common Tax Mistakes for Business Owners and How to Avoid Them With Mike Nulty

How do you keep your tax records clean and avoid those dreaded IRS audits? 

This week, Mike Nulty from Matthews & Nulty, Inc. joins Iván Watanabe and Evan Wohl to discuss effective tax strategies for individuals and small business owners. They dive into common mistakes, like poor record-keeping, and provide actionable tips on how to avoid them. 

So, tune in and learn how to keep your financial records clean and stay ahead of potential IRS audits!

Key episode discussion points include:

  • Keeping business and personal finances separate for clear record-keeping
  • The value of using tools like QuickBooks to track business expenses and revenues
  • How regularly reviewing your financials (on a monthly basis) can help you stay proactive rather than reactive
  • Timeline on taking tax deductions and understanding their long-term implications

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About Our Guest:

In early 2015, continuing with the firm’s core values, James Matthews made Michael W. Nulty a partner of the firm. Like James, Michael is also a graduate of Saint Peter’s University, in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Before becoming a partner of the firm, Michael spent seven years working under James, polishing his craft in accounting, auditing and tax. Together, James and Michael have a wealth of knowledge and have helped numerous entities both for profit and not for profit, become successful.

REPLAY: Planning For Retirement: Social Security and Medicare with Elaine Floyd

REPLAY: Planning For Retirement: Social Security and Medicare with Elaine Floyd

In today’s episode of WealthStyle, Iván Watanabe and Evan Wohl interview Elaine Floyd, Director of Retirement Life Planning at HorsesMouth about the intricacies of our nation’s support systems; Social Security and Medicare.

Listen as Elaine shares her expert knowledge by debunking some common misconceptions and detailing the benefits these programs provide using real-life examples and historical facts. 

Whether you’re approaching retirement, caring for a loved one, or simply curious about recent changes and restrictions regarding Social Security and Medicare, this episode is a must-listen!

Gain insight as Elaine discusses:

  • The importance of accessing your retirement income plan for the duration of your lifetime
  • Common mistakes people make when claiming Social Security, and the varying spousal benefits
  • The differences between Medicare Part A and Part B
  • How to navigate your options regarding your Health Savings Account (HSA) and Medicare
  • And more

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Working With A Financial Advisor

Working With A Financial Advisor

Navigating the twists and turns of today’s financial landscape is bound to raise a few questions.

Join Evan Wohl and Iván Watanabe as they delve into some of the most pressing financial queries and scenarios you may be facing in the current environment while highlighting the importance of having a financial advisor to help guide you. 

This conversation reflects on today’s real estate market dynamics, and the implications of interest rate changes, and expands into the broader scope of financial planning and investment strategies. 

Iván and Evan discuss:

  • The impact of the current interest rate environment on buying decisions in the real estate market
  • Strategies for navigating high mortgage rates and understanding the broader historical context of interest rates
  • The growing interest in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and how they could fit into contemporary investment portfolios
  • The importance of asset liquidity and preparedness 
  • The value of diversified banking and safeguarding assets
  • And more

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Transforming Spaces with Marialisa of Cyrus Contracting

Transforming Spaces with Marialisa of Cyrus Contracting

Are you considering a home renovation but feel overwhelmed by the prospect of working with contractors? 

You’re not alone.

In this episode, Iván Watanabe, and Evan Wohl speak with the owner and operator of Cyrus Contracting, Marialisa Zywotchenko, or ML for short. During their discussion, ML unravels the often daunting task of working with contractors, provides advice on establishing a trustworthy relationship with your contractor, and why investing in quality should be a priority. Through sharing first-hand experiences, ML illustrates the dangers of falling for misleading sales pitches, underscores the critical role of experienced subcontractors, and the legal importance of permits. 

After listening to this episode you will have a clearer understanding of how to approach your next renovation with confidence.

Key topics include:

  • How to find the right contractor for your project and budget
  • The most profitable home improvement renos
  • Questions to ask a potential contractor, including license, permits, and insurance
  • Real examples of client mistakes and misfortunes
  • Trends that stand the test of time vs. fads that don’t last
  • And more

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About Marialisa Zywotchenko:

Marialisa is the owner and operator of Cyrus Contracting. She holds two degrees from New York University in Construction and Real Estate Management. She earned her Associate’s degree from the University of Florida. Marialisa worked for several New York City general contracting firms in numerous roles and previously owned and managed her own painting company.

Marialisa has a passion for fine art and interior design as well as building. Her attention to detail sets Cyrus apart from other contractors in the Manhattan/Westchester competitive market.

The way Marialisa approaches the construction project simplifies the process for clients. She looks at the broad scope of the project and addresses each aspect.

Strategies for Real Estate Success with Scott Shuman

Strategies for Real Estate Success with Scott Shuman

Are you looking to sell your home and need insight into the current market? 

Want to know what potential buyers are looking for and what you can do to attract them? 

If you’re ready to list your house, make listening to this episode your first to-do!

Join our host Evan Wohl and his guest Scott Shuman, COO of The Sue Adler Team as they discuss the ever-changing real estate landscape. They hone in on how the pandemic and the shift in work habits are nudging folks from the hustle and bustle of city life to the quieter suburbs, and why you might want to hang on to your property as a source of income. 

Should you stay or go? 

Find out as this episode highlights:

  • What caused the shift in the real estate market during Covid
  • How have rising interest rates affected buyer activity and seller hesitation
  • The importance of finding a trusted real estate advisor before making decisions about home improvements or selling
  • Why you should consider holding onto property for rental income
  • Tips and guidance on how to increase the value of your home
  • Insight into the permits and legal requirements for selling/buying
  • And more

Resources:

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About Our Guest:

Scott Shuman, Morristown, grew up in Chatham and has been with The Sue Adler Team since 2010. Scott spearheads all of the team’s operations, and in a nutshell, is responsible for ensuring that the Sue Adler Team runs efficiently and effectively,  with client service always at the forefront, creating the best possible experience for our clients. If you have a conversation with Scott, it will instantly become clear how passionate he is about the real estate industry – he is one of the rare people (besides Sue), who got his real estate license as soon as he turned 18!   Scott has had his hand in almost every role in the industry from working with buyers and sellers to transaction management, to lead conversion to SEO and online marketing and everything in between.

Strategies for Managing Single Stock Positions with Andrew McCall

Strategies for Managing Single Stock Positions with Andrew McCall

Have you considered including covered calls and collars in your investment strategy? What options should you consider when looking at contracts for buying and selling investments?

Tune in as Iván Watanabe and Evan Wohl speak with Andrew McCall, regional consultant at SpiderRock Advisors. Andrew walks through some savvy options strategies, like covered calls and collars, that can help balance out the risks and tax implications while you’re working on diversifying your investment portfolio. 

Andrew discusses:

  • What are the options strategies discussed for managing single stock positions
  • Where does SpiderRock’s technology and expertise focus in terms of customizable option solutions
  • Why are options considered contracts for buying or selling investments at specific prices in the future
  • What are the downsides and trade-offs of using the covered call strategy
  • And more

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Leasing or Buying a Car with Alfonso Ruggiero

Leasing or Buying a Car with Alfonso Ruggiero

Are you looking at buying or leasing a car in the near future? Understanding the questions to consider could make the road a bit smoother for your purchase.

In this episode, Iván Watanabe and Evan Wohl are joined by Alfonso Ruggiero, a former Audi sales executive to delve into the intricacies of purchasing or leasing a vehicle. Listen as Alfonso offers valuable insights into the negotiation process, the significance of comprehending lease terms, and the various fees associated with such transactions.

Alfonso discusses:

  • Why is it important to negotiate the car price before discussing lease terms
  • What fees are involved in leasing a car
  • His thoughts on putting extra money down on a lease
  • The importance of considering where your car will be serviced 
  • And more

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Current Market Dynamics with Evan Wohl and Rob Pruett

Current Market Dynamics with Evan Wohl and Rob Pruett

Predicting the future is something that many people expect investment and wealth advisors to do, especially when it comes to fluctuations within the market. 

Join Evan Wohl and Rob Pruett from OPUS Private Client, LLC, for a candid discussion surrounding the current market dynamics and how advisors can help clients create flexible plans based on timeless investment principles.

Evan and Rob discuss:

  • Current market conditions and challenges facing clients
  • The importance of sticking to a long-term investment plan 
  • Ongoing increases and changes to tax rates, interest rates, and inflation  
  • Why you should work with a professional for financial planning
  • And more

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About Our Guest:

Robert P. Pruett has been a wealth advisor with Opus Private Client, LLC for 14 years performing planning for high-net-worth individuals, families, and business owners. Rob uses leading-edge advanced personal planning techniques to protect and maximize each client’s wealth, retirement, and estate plans. Rob also consults with 50-to-800-person firms to deliver high-value corporate benefit programs, with a special focus on delivering healthcare savings of 10-15% or more through Opus’ proprietary reimbursement program offering.

His specialties include asset management, institutional investing, tax planning, life insurance, disability, annuities, and long-term care insurance, corporate benefits programs, executive benefit programs, retirement, and estate planning, and legacy and charitable planning.

How to Make Tomorrow Better Today with Hal Hershfield

How to Make Tomorrow Better Today with Hal Hershfield

Do you recognize yourself when you imagine who you’ll be in the future?

Or does it feel like you’re looking at a stranger?

In this episode of WealthStyle, Evan Wohl speaks with Hal Hershfield, professor of psychology, marketing, and behavioral decision-making at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management on why it is so hard for most people to envision their future selves.

Listen in as Hal reveals the psychology behind this common mindset and what we can do to alter how we perceive ourselves presently and in the future.

Engage in a few “ah-ha” moments as Hal explains:

  • Why it’s a struggle to achieve goals, even if they are well planned
  • How envisioning and connecting with your future self can increase asset accumulation
  • The power of auto-enrollment for 401k contributions
  • Why we tend to live in a state of “status quo” versus looking ahead to the future
  • And more

Resources: 

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About Our Guest:

Hal Hershfield is a Marketing, Behavioral Decision Making, and Psychology Professor at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management and holds the UCLA Anderson Board of Advisors Term Chair in Management. His research, which sits at the intersection of psychology and economics, examines how we can improve our long-term decisions. He earned his Ph.D. in psychology from Stanford University.

Tax Strategies for Financial and Retirement Planning

Tax Strategies for Financial and Retirement Planning

When building a retirement plan, you need to look beyond your individual accounts. How will each type of account save you money? How will they protect your retirement income from high tax rates?

In this episode, Iván Watanabe and Evan Wohl focus on asset allocation and what needs to be considered when creating retirement income assets. They discuss the impact of taxes on retirement planning and how different accounts provide opportunities to save and withdraw retirement funds while avoiding high tax rates.

Iván and Evan explore:

  • The importance of considering the taxation of different asset vehicles
  • When to withdraw from different types of accounts
  • What to consider when making an investment decision
  • How different investment buckets provide options when withdrawing retirement income
  • And more

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An Eye on Investments with Russ Carpentieri

An Eye on Investments with Russ Carpentieri

What goes into a successful investment deal? Money? Time? Information?

Find out how you can invest with confidence in this episode of WealthStyle where Iván Watanabe and Evan Wohl sit down with Russ Carpentieri, Managing Director at OPUS Private Client, LLC to explore their personal insights, practical tips and real-life examples of how you can make profitable investment decisions.

Listen in as Iván, Evan, and Russ discuss:

  • How their relationship with money impacts their investment decisions
  • What questions to consider when assessing several deals
  • How a loss in investments isn’t a loss in the portfolio
  • Why you should spend time getting familiar with your investments
  • And more

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Guaranteed Income for a Happy Retirement with Tom Hegna

Guaranteed Income for a Happy Retirement with Tom Hegna

What’s the secret to a happy retirement?

If you want to enjoy your retirement to the fullest, you must have a sense of purpose and guaranteed income for the rest of your life. That way, you have something to look forward to every day, without the fear of running out of money!

In this episode of WealthStyle, Iván Watanabe and Evan Wohl sit down with Tom Hegna, a retirement expert, best-selling author, public TV host, and international speaker! 

Together, they explore:

  • Seven simple steps for a financially secure retirement
  • What drives happiness and longevity in retirement (based on research)
  • How you can achieve guaranteed lifetime income and a blissful retirement
  • Benefits of annuities and the different types available in the market
  • How to make your life purposeful and socially engaging during retirement
  • And more

Resources:


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About Tom Hegna:

Tom Hegna is an economist, author, and retirement expert. As a former First Vice President at New York Life, retired Lieutenant Colonel, and economist, Tom has delivered over 5,000 seminars on his signature “Paychecks and Playchecks” retirement approach, helping baby boomers and seniors retire the “optimal” way.

Tom specializes in creating simple and powerful retirement solutions. He has the unique ability to pump up a crowd, make people laugh, and solve complex financial problems using easy-to-understand words, ideas, and stories. He’s been featured in Business, Forbes, Money Rates, and many other leading publications. He is available to speak with businesses, government organizations, professional associations, financial professionals, and their clients across the globe.

What to Consider When Planning Your International Flight with Rob Karp and Henry Kamp

What to Consider When Planning Your International Flight with Rob Karp and Henry Kamp

How can you maximize your vacation and travel experience before you even leave the country?

In this episode, Iván Watanabe and Evan Wohl are joined by Rob Karp, founder and CEO, and Henry Kamp, head of Air Sales and Operations at MilesAhead, in sharing their knowledge of the travel industry and how to gain the most from your flight experience.

Rob and Henry discuss:

  • How the pandemic increased the cost of travel while negatively impacting the experience
  • Why travel so important to people
  • How to ease your flight with a baby
  • Tips to getting through customs and onto the plane faster and easier
  • And more

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About Our Guests:

Rob Karp is the Founder and CEO of MilesAhead. A graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration (‘19), Rob was named one of Travel + Leisure’s International Rising Stars in 2017 and a finalist for Virtuoso’s Rising Star award in 2019. Rob first founded MilesAhead as a sophomore in high school, initially helping family and friends efficiently use their frequent flyer miles for plane tickets. Over time, MilesAhead has evolved into a full-scale luxury hospitality company that works with a discerning group of clients.

As the Head of Air Sales and Operations, Henry Kamp ensures that all of our clients’ journeys are as pleasant as the destination. Although Henry focuses primarily on air travel, he plays a pivotal role in all travel bookings, handling everything from finding last-minute rental cars to identifying the perfect hotel.

How the Secure Act Has Changed Retirement Planning with Joshua Caron

How the Secure Act Has Changed Retirement Planning with Joshua Caron

The Secure Act was one of the most significant systemic rewrites of retirement planning in recent history. These changes created opportunities for all ages, from young adults just out of college to individuals just starting retirement.

In this episode, Evan Wohl speaks with Joshua Caron, Vice President of Federal Affairs at Finseca, on the Secure Act, how it changed retirement planning, and the individual aspects of the Secure Act 1.0 and 2.0.

Josh discusses:

  • Why the shift away from pensions was so important in retirement planning 
  • How student debt conflicted with retirement planning for those fresh out of college 
  • The change to overfunding 529 accounts and how Secure Act 2.0 changed the tax penalties for the account
  • Why 401(k)s are no longer enough for retirement income and the impact of longevity on retirement planning
  • And more

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About Josh Caron:

Joshua Caron is the Vice President of Federal Affairs for Finseca. Originally from Massachusetts, he attended Arizona State University for both his undergraduate and graduate degrees. His primary role is to advocate for policies that allow for more Americans to live financially secure lives with a focus on the advanced markets. 

 Prior to joining Finseca, he worked for several political campaigns, including those former President Barack Obama and former Congressman Harry Mitchell (D-AZ). He lives with his wife, daughter, and chocolate lab in St. Anthony Park, St. Paul MN.

About Evan Wohl:

Evan’s clients trust him with the responsibility to guide them through the complexities of personal finance. He provides clarity and insight on how to measure and improve your cash flow as well as whether or not you are on track to accomplish your various financial goals. The firm takes a macroeconomic approach to planning and coordinates all of your financial decisions through the use of a comprehensive economic model.

Evan’s wife, Laurie, and he have three children, Quinn, Parker and Bodie. He currently sits on the board of The Hope Gala. The Hope Gala was created to support fundraising efforts on behalf of The Four Diamonds Fund and The Penn State Dance Marathon (THON™). The Hope Gala contributes to the mission of conquering childhood cancer. All proceeds benefit pediatric cancer patients at the Penn State Children’s Hospital and their families in need of financial aid, medical assistance, and emotional support.