The Retirement Fix: Less Stress, More Success

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.

Welcome to The Retirement Fix, a podcast...

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 strategies to help clients make the most...

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 was reviewing his paycheck and noti...

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 Knowledge, a podcast for people who are p...

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 things financial. After a life-altering hea...

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 education.

Hi, I’m John Gigliello and you a...

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 when making decisions related to inves...

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 Individual Retirement Account. Many also, unwi...

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, my name is John Gigliello and you a...

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 confronted the debate surrounding the...

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 Gigliello, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ with...

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 eye, your car is struck in the pas...

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 can also make saving money lucrative...

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. 

Today’s more fully valued stock m...

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 life became clear: To share my knowledg...

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 barely three years ago.

Tucked inside a...

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 average mortgage rates, was close to its...

The price of college keeps climbing. In fact, the cost of a bachelor degree at some of the most popular private universities now exceeds $300,000! 

The average cost of college in 2021 came in at $27,330 for in-state public schools and $55,800 for private universities, as reported by the college board. That is for ONE year of tuition, fees, room and board. 

But you don’t have to sacrifice your own retirement nest egg to pay for your c...