The Confident Retirement

Latest Episodes:

Ep 061: The Tax Therapy 101 Jul 07, 2022

Show notes

Jeff Levine is a partner with A&L since 1983, serves as “Chairman of the Board” and oversees the firm’s strategic planning. He got his undergrad degree from Boston University and loves penguins.

Listen to this informative The Confident Retirement episode with Jeffrey Levine.

Here is what to expect on this week’s show:

- What Jeff would do if he started over

- What is a financial therapist?

- Importance of having a good bookkeeping system

- Big issues for small businesses

- How to set up a succession plan

- Things not to do before filing taxes

Connect with Jeff:

Links Mentioned:

https://www.alkon-levine.com

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Ep 059: MEDICARE: Understanding the Options Jun 30, 2022

Show notes

Aaron Arenbart is an insurance broker in 23 states. He has been working with Medicare insurance plans since 2008. He helps demystify Medicare for his clients by taking a solution-based approach to understanding their health, lifestyle, and budget. He meets his clients where they are at with their Medicare understanding and tailors his consulting to their needs and desires. His goal is to place his clients in a better place than when he found them. Aaron is a husband, father, and advocate for healthy living.

Listen to this dynamic The Confident Retirement Podcast episode with Aaron Arenbart

about Medicare benefits.

Here is what to expect on this week’s show:

● Different counties have different Medicare plans

● Why does Medicare exist?

● What is an advantage plan?

● What do all the letters with Medicare mean?

● Medicare supplement vs Medigap

● Can I switch between plans?

Connect with Kris:

Website: https://www.lpfadvisors.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristopher-flammang-lpfadv/

Twitter: @kflammang

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Ep 060: Elder Care & Asset Protection Basics Jun 30, 2022

Show notes

Michael Mortellaro received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Phoenix in 2003. He received his Juris Doctor from Florida International University and graduated with honors in 2006. Mr. Mortellaro’s practice areas include: Estate Planning, Probate, Medicaid Asset Protection, and VA Benefits. Mortellaro Law helps families with their estate planning, probate, and elder law legal needs.

Michelangelo services clients in Tampa, Hillsborough County, and throughout the adjoining counties. With 14 years of experience in elder law, Michelangelo devotes his time and resources to educate the community and his clients on elder law affairs and estate planning.

Listen to this informative The Confident Retirement episode with Michael Mortellaro

about elder care & asset protection basics. Here is what to expect on this week’s show:

- How he would have done things differently when starting out

- One of the largest elder law firms in central Florida

- Common misconceptions for clients

- His Legacy Care program

- Difference between estate planning and elder care

- Veterans Administration partnership

- Asset Protection

Connect with Mike:

Links Mentioned:

https://www.mortellarolaw.com/

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Ep 058: Must Know Medicare Info Jun 09, 2022

Show notes

Scott Sims is a licensed insurance broker focused on helping boomers transition into Medicare. Now 8 years in the business, Scott has taken his knowledge of the Senior health insurance business and started making Medicare educational videos online in 2019. With over 133K followers on TikTok and almost 4,000 YouTube subscribers, it’s obvious people want to be educated before they choose or buy a product. Scott is married to Kelly and they have 2 young children, Ava (9) and Zoe (3).

In our conversation, we discuss several topics, including:

The challenges of the business

The issues with not preparing for retirement

The supplemental and high deductible plans of Medicare

How advantage plans differ from supplemental plans

Options for people retiring who need coverage

Enjoy the show!

Connect with Kris:

Website: https://www.lpfadvisors.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristopher-flammang-lpfadv/

Twitter:@kflammang

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Ep 057: Leading with a Servant's Heart Featuring Jair Espinoza Jun 02, 2022

Show notes

J. Jair Espinoza currently holds the position of Group Benefits Manager for the City of Miami in the City’s Risk Management Department, under the leadership of Director, Ann-Marie Sharpe, ARM-P. Jair has been with the City since March 2011 and hired as Supervisor of Payroll, in the Finance Dept. He was promoted to current position in October 2012. He is also a member of the State and Local Government Association (SALBGA) and has served as a Board Member as a Director since 2019. In addition, he is also a member of the Florida Alliance for Healthcare Value, as well as the Consortium for a Healthier Miami-Dade and the Cigna Wellness Council of Florida.

Prior to joining the city, Jair was the Director of Payroll Services for Devcon Security Services where he successfully managed payroll and group benefits functions. During the company’s expansion phase, he was responsible for synchronizing disparate group benefits plans, payroll schedules and for standardizing acquired companies’ paid time off accrual grants.

Jair’s career spans over two decades of increasingly rewarding and responsible positions managing large multi-state employers, both public and municipal. He offers a diversified set of skills covering payroll, group benefits and project management with the ability to provide cost-effective solutions derived from a continued-process improvement approach. Jair is known for strategic, operational and tactical proficiency aimed at optimizing internal operations.

In our conversation, we discuss several topics, including:

Why you need to think about your health and retirement

Why communication is key

The importance of fully understanding your benefits

The benefits employees want most

The challenges of getting clients to take action

Enjoy the show!

Connect with Kris:

Website: https://www.lpfadvisors.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristopher-flammang-lpfadv/

Twitter:@kflammang

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Ep 056: International Relocation Law and Expatriation May 26, 2022

Show notes

Prior to launching Global Tax Law PLLC, Christine worked at Deloitte Tax LLP, DLA Piper LLP, and McDermott Will & Emery LLP in the international tax and private client groups. During law school, Christine interned at the Office of Chief Counsel of the Internal Revenue Service in the Large Business and International (LB&I) Division.

Christine earned a Bachelor of Science in International Business and French Literature from The Florida State University, a Master of Arts in International Business from the University of Florida, a Juris Doctor from the University of Connecticut, and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation from Northwestern University.

Christine also studied at the University of Salamanca in Spain, the Linguistic University of Nizhny Novgorod in Russia, and both La Sorbonne and Sciences Po in Paris. She is fluent in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese and has studied several other languages.

In our conversation, we discuss several topics, including:

What led Christine to becoming an attorney

The steps of relocating internationally

What an accidental citizen is

Who an ideal client is

The biggest obstacles she is facing with her law firm

Enjoy the show!

Connect with Kris:

Website: https://www.lpfadvisors.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristopher-flammang-lpfadv/

Twitter:@kflammang

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Ep 055: What Does a Great Benefits Offering Entail? May 19, 2022

Show notes

Nancy Hendrickson started with CAN Community Health in July of 2016 working as a temp where she was responsible for processing Payroll and general HR duties. Shortly thereafter, she was hired and currently is the Total Rewards Manager where she manages all aspects of the employee benefits program. This includes health and welfare plans, retirement plans, life insurance, wellness programs, and any other employee benefit plans offered.

Prior to moving to Sarasota, Florida, she lived in Baltimore, Maryland where she was a licensed Life/Health Insurance agent and worked with other brokers, brokerage firms, clients, and Third-Party Administrators. Her final position was the Enrollment Department Supervisor for BenefitMall where she and her staff maintained a zero-error report with CareFirst.

In our conversation, we discuss several topics, including:

Why Nancy loves working for her company

Why communication and honesty are important traits when challenges at work surface

Why you always have to listen to your employees

How benefits help employees

How understanding benefit packages can be overwhelming for employees

What part of benefit packages gets the most positive feedback

Enjoy the show!

Connect with Kris:

Website: https://www.lpfadvisors.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristopher-flammang-lpfadv/

Twitter:@kflammang

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Ep 054: How Does Fashion Influence Group Benefits Programs? May 12, 2022

Show notes

Episode 054 How Does Fashion Influence Group Benefits Programs? Featuring Jessica O'Leary, HR Professional

Jessica O’Leary is a well-rounded and resourceful HR Professional with working experience in the education and municipal sectors. Jessica is skilled in benefits package design, strategy, risk management, training and development, recruitment, and compliance. Jessica has strong Human Resources skills with Certificate focused in Human Resources Management from Collin County Community College and MBA with a concentration in Human Resources Management from Capella University.

In our conversation, we discuss several topics, including:

What led Jessica into the HR field

The emotional roller coaster that comes with dealing with benefits and insurance

The important skills needed when dealing with employee relations

The benefits employees sought after the most

The challengers of providing benefits for employees

Why you should consider a career in the HR field

Enjoy the show!

Connect with Kris:

Website: https://www.lpfadvisors.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristopher-flammang-lpfadv/

Twitter:@kflammang

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Ep 053: Estate Planning and the Gift Tax May 05, 2022

Show notes

Azriel Baer’s practice focuses on estate planning, trust and estate administration at Farrell Fritz Attorneys based in Uniondale, NY. Azi advises clients on wealth preservation, estate, and gift tax planning. He helps his clients achieve their estate planning objectives by preparing wills, revocable and irrevocable trust instruments, and advance directives.

The favorite part of Azi’s practice is how he gets to interact with his clients, often acting as a family counselor who can make a real difference in their lives. Azi believes it’s a very personal part of the law that is a privilege to be a part of.

Azi admits that he really enjoys tax law even though keeping up with the changing US tax law is a constant challenge.

In our conversation, we discuss several topics, including:

Estate planning is not just for the rich.

The options available to those who have a taxable estate.

An explanation of revocable and irrevocable trusts and how they are used.

The three crucial documents every client should have.

How estate planning and estate administration go hand in hand.

The specialty of his practice includes gift tax planning.

How his clients benefit from the firm’s knowledgeable and collaborative colleagues.

Enjoy the show!

Connect with Azriel:

Website: https://www.farrellfritz.com/attorney/azriel-baer/

Connect with Kris:

Website: https://www.lpfadvisors.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristopher-flammang-lpfadv/

Twitter:@kflammang

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Ep 052: The Challenges In The Current Real Estate Market. Apr 28, 2022

Show notes

For over 20 years, Bev Murray has worked as a realtor in Sarasota, Florida. She is responsible for over $400 million of real estate bought, sold, and built in the area. Bev specializes in residential and vacant land purchasing and development sales and is ranked in the top one-half of one percent of over 50,000 Berkshire Hathaway Home Services agents nationwide.

Bev is a certified real estate negotiation expert (RENE), Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist and a member of the National Association of Realtors and the Global Business Council.

The real estate market has unique challenges for both sellers and buyers and Bev points out that people need to rely on experts to help them through these especially challenging and stressful times.

In our conversation, we discuss:

Bev’s journey from the corporate world in London to self-employment in Sarasota.

The challenge of the current market.

The need for a seller to have an expert in the sales process.

How labor shortages and supply chain issues are affecting the market.

The importance of technology in the sales cycle.

Future real estate trends.

Enjoy the show!

Connect with Bev:

Website: https://www.murraygroupusa.com/about-bev-murray

Connect with Kris:

Website: https://www.lpfadvisors.com/