Tag: Retirement Planning
Retirement Beyond the Numbers with Mike McCabe, CFP®, CPC – Part 2 (Ep. 82)

Retirement Beyond the Numbers with Mike McCabe, CFP®, CPC – Part 2 (Ep. 82)

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Retirement planning often focuses on finances, but the emotional and personal side can be just as impactful. What happens when work slows down, routines change, and relationships shift at home?

In this episode, Nicole Romito and Mike McCabe, CFP®, CPC, Partner & Senior Advisor at Private Vista, continue their discussion by shifting from money to mindset. They explore the emotional side of retirement, including changes in daily routines, increased time with a spouse, and the importance of retiring toward something meaningful. The conversation highlights communication, structure, and flexibility as key factors in building a fulfilling next chapter after work.

Key takeaways:

  • Why open communication becomes even more important for couples in the second phase of retirement
  • How clients often revisit retirement readiness for years before feeling comfortable moving forward
  • The value of retiring toward purpose rather than simply leaving a career
  • How routines and structure support emotional balance after full-time work ends
  • Understanding mental stress when retirement is unexpected or arrives sooner than planned
  • And more!

Connect with Nicole Romito: 

Connect with Mike McCabe:

About Our Guest: 

Throughout his career in financial services, Mike McCabe has focused on helping clients manage their financial lives in a way that supports enjoyment and fulfillment beyond the numbers. He has a strong commitment to continued learning, earning the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® designation as well as the Certified Pension Consultant (CPC) designation through the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries. Within the firm, Mike serves on the Investment Committee, supports compliance efforts, and mentors the next generation of advisors.

Mike values a healthy work and life balance, which for him means finding satisfaction in his work while making time for golf, volunteering, exercise, movies, and meaningful time with his wife, friends, and family. He looks ahead to continued growth with modern technology, more travel, deeper community involvement, and enjoying life as a present and engaged grandfather.

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Retirement Planning, Health Coverage, and Income with Mike McCabe, CFP®, CPC – Part 1 (Ep. 81)

Retirement Planning, Health Coverage, and Income with Mike McCabe, CFP®, CPC – Part 1 (Ep. 81)

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Retirement often feels close long before the details are clear, and timing can shape how smooth the transition feels. Decisions around income, health coverage, and benefits tend to overlap more than expected.

In this episode, Nicole Romito sits down with Mike McCabe, CFP®, CPC, Partner & Senior Advisor at Private Vista, to walk through what to think about in the final year before retirement. They cover Medicare timing, Social Security decisions, and how early planning helps avoid rushed choices. The conversation also explores replacing a paycheck, managing cash flow, and why tax awareness matters as income sources change.

Key takeaways:

  • Planning health insurance decisions at least 90 days before retirement to avoid gaps and confusion
  • Understanding how Medicare Parts A, B, D, and supplemental options fit together
  • Recognizing that Social Security reductions for early filing are permanent
  • Replacing a paycheck with structured retirement income that feels predictable
  • Using multiple account types to manage taxes and income timing effectively
  • And more!

Connect with Nicole Romito: 

Connect with Mike McCabe:

About Our Guest: 

Throughout his career in financial services, Mike McCabe has focused on helping clients manage their financial lives in a way that supports enjoyment and fulfillment beyond the numbers. He has a strong commitment to continued learning, earning the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® designation as well as the Certified Pension Consultant (CPC) designation through the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries. Within the firm, Mike serves on the Investment Committee, supports compliance efforts, and mentors the next generation of advisors.

Mike values a healthy work and life balance, which for him means finding satisfaction in his work while making time for golf, volunteering, exercise, movies, and meaningful time with his wife, friends, and family. He looks ahead to continued growth with modern technology, more travel, deeper community involvement, and enjoying life as a present and engaged grandfather.

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REPLAY: Finding Purpose Beyond Financial Independence with Jeff Toner (Ep. 79)

REPLAY: Finding Purpose Beyond Financial Independence with Jeff Toner (Ep. 79)

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What happens after you reach financial independence? Many assume retirement means endless relaxation, but the reality is often more complex.

How do you find meaning when career obligations no longer drive your daily routine? What brings fulfillment in this new chapter of life?

In this episode, Nicole Romito revisits a conversation with Jeff Toner, CHFC®, RICP®, Partner at Private Vista, about moving beyond the numbers to discover purpose and meaning after achieving financial independence. Jeff shares insights from nearly 40 years in financial planning, discussing the evolution from solving math problems to helping clients navigate life transitions. 

He explores resources for designing your next phase, real-world examples of clients finding fulfillment, and practical approaches to climbing the “second mountain” of purpose-driven living.

Jeff discusses:

  • The shift from retirement planning as a math problem to conversations about purpose and life design
  • How financial independence often arrives earlier than expected, creating both opportunity and uncertainty
  • Practical resources like “Designing Your Life” and “The Second Mountain” for mapping your next chapter
  • Real examples of clients finding meaning through social enterprises, education programs, and service work
  • Why staying curious, investing time in exploration, and maintaining connections are essential to fulfillment
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Nicole Romito: 

Connect with Jeff Toner:

About Our Guest: 

Jeff Toner, CHFC®, RICP®, 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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Financial Truths Every Woman Needs to Hear with Terry Savage (Ep. 78)

Financial Truths Every Woman Needs to Hear with Terry Savage (Ep. 78)

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Most women carry the weight of financial decisions while juggling careers, caregiving, and the pressure to simply “figure it out.” 

In this conversation, Nicole sits down with nationally recognized money expert Terry Savage for a grounded, candid look at what women need to know at every stage of life. They unpack why time is one of your most powerful financial tools, the real impact of credit card debt, how early investing can change your future, and why long-term care planning matters more than most people realize.

What to expect from this episode:

  • How to avoid the debt spiral that steals opportunities
  • The power of starting small and starting early
  • Why women’s financial paths include unique challenges
  • How to protect yourself and loved ones later in life
  • And so much more!

Resources:

Connect with Nicole Romito: 

Connect with Terry Savage:

About Our Guest: 

Terry Savage is a nationally recognized expert on personal finance, the economy, and the markets. She writes a weekly personal finance column syndicated in major newspapers by Tribune Content Agency.

She is the author of four best-selling books on personal finance. A new edition of her best-selling book, The Savage Truth on Money is now available on Amazon.com. The first edition was named one of the top ten money books of the year by Amazon.com. Her other recent book is: The Savage Number: How Much Money do You Really Need to Retire? She is also co-author of The New Love Deal.

Terry appears frequently on national television and radio programs, commenting on the financial markets and current economic events. She is featured on WGN Radio and WGN-TV in Chicago, with a weekly personal finance segment.

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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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FEATURE
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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FEATURE
Creating Meaning from Your Means with Sarah Newcomb (Ep. 23)

Creating Meaning from Your Means with Sarah Newcomb (Ep. 23)

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You could build the best financial plan for your retirement, with enough money for trips and relaxing days for the rest of your life. But what will you do during your retirement? Playing golf and seeing family only takes so much time.

In this episode, Nicole speaks with Sarah Newcomb, author, speaker and founder of Thrive, on the psychology behind satisfying the emotional needs of retirees. Sarah dives into the importance of emotional needs and why they shouldn’t be considered a want when building your retirement plan.

Sarah discusses: 

  • Her groundbreaking approach to setting life goals that will revolutionize your retirement planning.
  • The profound significance of establishing a financial role model and how it can shape your path towards a prosperous retirement
  • The transformative power of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs within the realm of financial and retirement planning
  • The hidden secret to a fulfilling retirement: the essential role that hobbies play in bringing joy, purpose, and fulfillment to your golden years.
  • And so much more!

 

Connect with Nicole Romito: 

Connect with Sarah Newcomb:

About our Guest: 

Sarah Newcomb, Ph.D. is a behavioral economist and Founder of the Thrive Financial Empowerment Center. Through writing, speaking, and coaching, she teaches people of all stripes to build lives they love with the resources they have. As a subject matter expert, Dr. Newcomb has worked with corporate behavioral science teams at HelloWallet, Morningstar, and Edward Jones, where she helps financial advisors understand and respond to aspects of psychology that affect financial decisions. In all her roles, Sarah aims to adapt the findings of academic research to practical use in the financial lives of ordinary people, and to ground innovative approaches to financial advice in well-established psychological theory.

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Medicare Made Clear With Carly Rosswurm (Ep. 20)

Medicare Made Clear With Carly Rosswurm (Ep. 20)

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Let’s face it, Medicare plans are an alphabet soup. Let’s simplify them together.

In this episode, Nicole talks to Carly Rosswurm, the director of Medicare Solutions at Ash Brokerage, to clear the air about Medicare. With 17 years of experience in Medicare, Carly gives us an overview of the Medicare program and the different types of available plans, and a breakdown of the highest and lowest premiums of 2023. She also explains how you can determine if Medicare is the right insurance option for you when you should start planning to apply for Medicare, how the annual enrollment periods work, and a lot more!

Carly discusses: 

  • An overview of the Medicare program and the different types of plans
  • When you should start doing your research and speak to a healthcare broker
  • What she considers when determining if someone should stay with their employer’s insurance plan
  • A breakdown of the lowest and highest Medicare premiums in 2023
  • The circumstances when IRMAA charges can be appealed and what the process is like
  • How the annual enrollment periods work
  • And more

 

Connect with Nicole Romito: 

Connect with Carly Rosswurm:

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