Tag: Estate Planning
Building Your Financial Dream Team with Greg Bogdan (Ep.54)

Building Your Financial Dream Team with Greg Bogdan (Ep.54)

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Assembling a smart financial team could be the key to your long-term financial success. 

Financial planning isn’t just about the numbers; it’s about orchestrating a professional team that grows with you, helping further secure your financial future and peace of mind.

Nicole Romito sits down with Greg Bogdan, Senior Advisor at Private Vista, to discuss why having a well-rounded financial team is crucial. Learn the importance of avoiding a “team of one,” how to integrate your financial, legal, and tax advisors, and real-life stories illustrating the impact of a coordinated approach.  

  • The importance of a complete team: Understand why a single advisor may not be enough to cover complex financial needs.
  • The value of proactive planning and why regular updates are essential
  • Examples of how a coordinated team has simplified estate settlement and major financial decisions 
  • How to start building your financial team today

Connect with Nicole Romito: 

Connect with Greg Bogdan:

About Our Guest: 

Greg Bogdan enjoys creating lasting relationships as a trusted advisor to clients. He finds it most rewarding to help his clients think through their financial situations in developing a customized plan and path to achieving their goals. After walking clients through his process, Greg hopes that they come away feeling empowered to make informed financial decisions with the confidence of knowing how to achieve their vision of ‘financial independence’ while living a more enriched and fulfilling life.

With a busy, young family, outside of work and in between shuttling their girls (ages 7, 5, and 1) between activities, Greg, and his wife, Christi, enjoy cookouts and entertaining with their friends and family. During the summer months, they’re often found at nearby parks, going on walks with their dog, Clancy, or riding bikes as a family. They most enjoy summer vacations on the beaches of Cape Cod and the shores of Michigan. In the future, My Private Vista is to explore the country and instill their love of traveling in their girls.

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Tips for Estate Planning With Lindsey Markus (Ep. 50)

Tips for Estate Planning With Lindsey Markus (Ep. 50)

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Navigating the complexities of estate planning can feel overwhelming, and many of us are uncertain about how to initiate this crucial conversation with our families

But don’t let your fears of the unknown stop you from planning this important piece of your legacy.

Join guest Lindsey Markus, Asset Protection Attorney and Shareholder Principal at Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. as she shares tips for navigating hard conversations around estate planning. Through personal anecdotes and professional guidance, learn how to guide your loved ones to be well-prepared and honor your wishes.

Nicole and Lindsey discuss: 

  • The complexities of estate planning in blended families and first marriages
  • Equitable distribution vs equal distribution
  • Strategies to prevent family conflicts when estate planning
  • The importance of ongoing review and updates in estate plans
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Nicole Romito: 

Connect with Lindsey Markus:

About our Guest: 

Lindsey Paige Markus is a licensed attorney in the state of Illinois, Florida, and New York. Lindsey concentrates in the areas of estate planning, asset protection, wealth transfers, and taxation. Lindsey works with business owners and families to formulate succession plans, advise in wealth preservation and various aspects of gift and estate taxation. 

Lindsey is also a collaborative law fellow and consults on the estate planning and estate tax implications associated with marriage and divorce. 

Passionate about educating clients and advisors, Lindsey has published more than 30 articles. In addition, Lindsey speaks regularly on estate planning, wealth protection, corporate and non-profit issues to groups and through a variety of media appearances. 

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How to Prepare for the Death of a Loved One With Carrie Shoener (Ep. 46)

How to Prepare for the Death of a Loved One With Carrie Shoener (Ep. 46)

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Reflecting on the loss of a loved one is an agonizing journey nobody willingly embarks on.

Yet, those who take proactive steps to brace themselves for such an inevitable occurrence are often spared the crippling weight of financial burden and the relentless onslaught of emotional upheaval in the aftermath.

Join Nicole Romito as she welcomes her esteemed colleague, Carrie Shoener, to discuss the critical but often overlooked topic of preparing for the death of a loved one. Despite the difficulty, it is essential to have these conversations to ensure that everything is in order and wishes are understood. 

Learn key steps and best practices as Nicole and Carrie discuss:

  • How to approach the end-of-life conversation with your loved ones
  • Strategies for ensuring family members have access to essential documents and passwords
  • The importance of having updated financial and estate planning documents 
  • Tips for sharing sensitive topics with family members to avoid future conflicts
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Nicole Romito: 

Connect with Carrie Shoener:

About Our Guest: 

Carrie Shoener is an advisor at Private Vista LLC. Her previous work as a high school teacher emphasized how important it is to build strong relationships as the cornerstone of one’s career. That same principle guides her work as an advisor, where she is able to continue helping people solve problems and make empowered decisions about their futures. Carrie sees her role as a trusted and empathetic source of financial education, and she enjoys working with clients to build up their knowledge and understanding of their options.

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Key Changes in the Secure Act 2.0 With Laurie Kaplan (Ep. 35)

Key Changes in the Secure Act 2.0 With Laurie Kaplan (Ep. 35)

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The Secure Act 2.0 is ever-evolving and has brought up some important questions recently, so let’s go over them!

Laurie Kaplan, CPA, partner at Michael Silver, joins Nicole for her second time on the show to continue their discussion about the Secure Act 2.0. Laurie goes over what has been finalized in the act for 2023 and looks ahead to 2024 and 2025. She clears up confusion around various topics including the Required Minimum Distributions when inheriting an IRA, changes in retirement plans, the rules and implications of annuities and IRAs, and the importance of tax planning. Laurie also discusses the new Roth IRA rollover option, the penalty reduction for missed RMDs, and the benefits of having both Roth and traditional IRAs.

Laurie discusses: 

  • The Secure Act 2.0 provisions and potential impact on retirement plans
  • What has been finalized in the act for 2023 and what we can anticipate for 2024 and 2025
  • Changes to required minimum distributions, Roth IRA rollover option for 529 plans, and penalty reduction for missed RMDs
  • Explanation of annuities and IRAs, including single life expectancy and joint annuity options
  • Designation of beneficiaries for retirement plans and consequences of not having one or if the designated beneficiary is deceased or not updated
  • Premiums and surcharges associated with Medicare based on adjusted gross income (AGI)
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Nicole Romito: 

Connect with Laurie Kaplan:

About Our Guest: 

Laurie Kaplan, CPA, has been serving as a trusted advisor to clients for over 25 years, expertly managing and addressing tax and accounting issues within various industries, including manufacturing and distribution, retail, restaurants, real estate, automobile dealerships, and professional service providers. Her background in both accounting and tax, as well as her consultative approach, allows her to partner with clients and develop innovative solutions to address their personal and business needs. She specializes in employee benefit plans, estate and gift tax, like-kind exchanges, and small business start-ups.

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Estate Planning for the Sandwich Generation With Jeff Toner (Ep. 34)

Estate Planning for the Sandwich Generation With Jeff Toner (Ep. 34)

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Estate planning is important for everyone, but why is it especially important for the sandwich generation?

In this episode, Nicole introduces fellow Private Vista colleague, Jeff Toner, CHFC®, RICP®, Partner at Private Vista, to talk about estate planning. While it’s important to get your documents in order before you need them, Nicole and Jeff point out that there are many layers to estate planning and discuss the impact it can have on multiple parts of our lives. They delve into the complexities of managing aging parents’ affairs, the importance of open communication within families, and the need for estate planning documents. Jeff emphasizes the benefits of proactive estate planning, including providing clarity for families, reducing tax burdens, and ensuring wealth preservation for future generations.

Nicole and Jeff go over: 

  • The importance of estate planning, especially for the sandwich generation
  • The challenges that come with managing aging parents’ affairs and the reversal of roles
  • Why estate planning isn’t just a checklist, it’s a lifelong process
  • What key documents are needed for estate planning, in addition to a will
  • The challenges faced by the sandwich generation in estate planning for aging parents and themselves
  • An explanation of power of attorney, wills, trusts, and their importance in estate planning
  • The various benefits of proactive estate planning, including control over decisions, educating and providing clarity for families, and tax reduction
  • And more

Connect with Nicole Romito: 

Connect with Jeff Toner:

About our Guest: 

Jeff Toner, Partner at Private Vista, now almost 40 years into his career, has the luxury of looking backward and reflecting on the journey he has been on. Back in 1984, he didn’t know what a fiduciary was or what a financial planner did. What he did know was he wanted to help people with their finances and achieve their goals in life. He wanted to do it in a way that he wasn’t selling them a product but rather walking side by side with them as they moved toward their dreams. Jeff has been with them in moments of great joy and cried with them during their times of sadness. He has taught and educated them, but more importantly, he has been taught and learned from them as well.

 

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Long-Term Care Planning: Getting Your Affairs In Order with Lauren Weldon (Ep. 11)

Long-Term Care Planning: Getting Your Affairs In Order with Lauren Weldon (Ep. 11)

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As we are living longer and healthier lives, we often take for granted that one day, our situation might change. Planning ahead for your long-term care now can help you avoid unforeseen expenses in the future.

In this episode, Nicole is joined by Lauren Weldon, a partner at Margolis Weldon LLC who specializes in elder law and estate planning. Listen as Lauren shares real-life stories and scenarios, and details what can happen in less-than-ideal situations when it comes to long-term care planning.

Lauren discusses: 

  • Her work as an elder law attorney and why some people require her services
  • The importance of having a trustworthy, and capable Power of Attorney
  • Why having conversations as a family is integral to your long-term care plan
  • The difference between Medicare and Medicaid 
  • And more

Connect with Nicole Romito: 

Connect with Lauren Weldon:

About our Guest: 

Lauren Weldon is a partner at Margolis Weldon LLC in Parkridge, Illinois. She founded the firm in 2015 with Matt Margolis and has a career as an elder law attorney. Lauren graduated from the University of South Carolina and obtained her law degree from John Marshall Law School.

Lauren lives in Mt. Prospect with her husband, a labor and employment attorney, their six kids, two cats, and two dogs. In her free time (the little of it she has) Lauren enjoys riding her horse and spending time outdoors with her family and friends.

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Starting a Family Dialogue Around Getting Older With Debbie Feldman (Ep. 8)

Starting a Family Dialogue Around Getting Older With Debbie Feldman (Ep. 8)

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Estate planning is hard for many, but it doesn’t have to be. 

Let’s talk about how to have those tough conversations with family and make the process easier.

In this episode, Nicole talks about estate planning with Debbie Feldman, the founder of Debra D. Feldman and Associates, Ltd. Debbie is a licensed and insured clinical social worker and works as an Aging Life Care Manager. She shares her professional experiences along with personal experiences as it relates to having and initiating sensitive conversations with loved ones about their well-being and estate planning.

Nicole and Debbie discuss: 

  • Who should initiate conversations about estate planning 
  • How to approach sensitive conversations about estate planning and well-being with aging family members
  • What signs to look for that indicate your loved ones may need additional assistance, and how to open the conversation to offer them assistance
  • How to balance taking care of parents while remaining in the child in the child role
  • And more

Connect with Nicole Romito: 

Connect with Debbie Feldman:

About our Guest: 

Debbie Feldman is the owner and founder of Debra D. Feldman and Associates, Ltd. She is a licensed and insured clinical social worker. Debbie received her Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan in December 1984, and her B.A. in Psychology and Sociology from Washington University in St. Louis in May 1983. Trained as a social worker, Debra began her career as an Aging Life Care™ Manager in 1988, and in 1991, she established her own company, Debra D. Feldman & Associates, Ltd.

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