Boomer-Living.com...enhancing the lives of Active Baby Boomers.
A.T. "Al" Benelli, CFP, FIC
Al Benelli is a Certified Financial Planner® practitioner and founder of The Merlin Group, a financial advisory firm located in Trooper, PA. An engineering and business major from Penn State and St. Joseph’s Universities, Al continues his education through the Wharton School of Business of the University of Pennsylvania.
Email this author at abenelli@boomer-living.com | Visit this author's LinkedIn Profile
The Talk Every Boomer Couple Needs to Have
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
Money problems can overwhelm a relationship, particularly one on the verge of marriage or a live-in arrangement.
According to the Financial Planning Association, here are a few ways to avoid potential...
Tags: boomer couples, joint accounts, money priorities
Boomers: Can You Recognize Your Financial Personality?
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
Not all investors are created equal.
According to study results released by the Financial Planning Association of Washington, D.C., there are distinct money “types” that trained financial advisors,...
Tags: beneficiaries, financial health, financial planning association, magicians, successful business people
Federal Death Tax Gone; State Tax Remains Ominous
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
In the last days of 2009, Congress let the federal estate tax die for 2010.
That’s right, for those who are “smart” enough to pass away this year, there is no federal estate tax.
I’m imagining...
Tags: federal estate tax, financial advisors, heirs, inheritance taxes, tax experts
Rushing to Roth Could Be Costly
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
So, I’m driving to the office listening to my favorite all-news radio station when along comes a commercial that says “Converting your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA without paying those nasty taxes...
Tags: income tax liability, money, retirement, tax monies, traditional ira
Retirement 101: Getting Back to Basics
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
Since the most recent market meltdown, Americans are re-evaluating their financial situations.
Some, mostly those who have invested some time and money in the process of “planning,” are doing so...
Tags: basic building blocks, cash reserves, financial security, income sources, retirement lifestyle
The Resurgence of Uncertainty
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
The economic recovery is alleged to have started back in March. Health care reform, in one shape or another, was a given. Barak Obama was the icon of “change” in our government. What a difference...
Tags: economic recovery, health care bill, legislative focus, stimulus
Get 2010 Off to a Great Financial Start
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
Made any resolutions about money for this year?
There’s still time.
Look at some of the suggestions coming from the Financial Planning Association of Washington, D.C.
Write down your goals
Money...
Tags: 401 k, career plan, financial goals, financial planning association, personal finances
Are You Smarter Than a Ponzi Schemer?
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
The $50 billion Ponzi scheme pulled off by Bernie Madoff was a huge story in 2009.
He had operated his bogus investment company for nearly 30 years, pulling wool over the eyes of allegedly sophisticated...
Tags: Bernie Madoff, credentials, financial fraud, financial planning association, investment company
Make This the Year You Take Over Your Financial Future
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
Remember the scene from “Network” where the actor encourages everyone watching to go to the window, open it, and yell: “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore”?
Well if that’s...
Tags: bailout, consumer protections, credit cards, goals and aspirations, new year
Congressional Menu for 2010? Pork… Pork… and Yes… More Pork!
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
A little more than a year ago, the American voters elected a new President on the basis of “change”. One of the major issues was the alleged end to special interests, lobbyists and “back-room”...
Tags: federal spending, healthcare reform, medicare payments, senate health committee
Al’s Holiday Reflection
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
Yes, it’s the week before Christmas and again here I sit…
Seeking holiday spirit… and brilliance… and wit!
For years I’d look forward to completing this part,
My annual poem… my joy from...
Tags: christmas wish, festival of lights, happy holidays, peace on earth
Meet Our Directors
Posted in: Boomer's Speak & Coffee House Blog |
Seasons Greetings from Boomer-Living.com
Meet Our Director
AL BENELLI
We wish you and your family a very happy Holiday Season and a New Year filled with peace and prosperity.
Click HERE to learn...
Tags: financial director, holiday season, new year, prosperity
SEC Chickens Out on Annuity Rule
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
Last week, in a filing with the U.S. Court of Appeals the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) agreed to a two-year delay in the implementation of it’s controversial Rule 151A which would have required...
Tags: financial abuse, indexed annuity, insurance industry, senator herb kohl, senior citizens
Time to Visit Santa and Your Tax Man!
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
Santa yes… but visit the tax man? Hey, it’s only December! I don’t need the tax guy until next year… around April right? Not if you’re into the art of planning ahead. Not if you’re interested...
Tags: december 31, new year, retirement plan, tax form, year end
Time for Legislation on Financial Advisors
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
For years, I have been trying to warn consumers and investors about the multitude of untrained, untested and generally unqualified individuals posing as financial advisors.
Although our practice gets...
Tags: consumer protection, financial advisors, FINRA, legislative action, state securities
Independent Advisors “Circle the Wagons”
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
There are many ways to define “independent” investment advisors; however, I suspect the most appropriate definition would be that of an advisor or firm who is in no way directly connected with the...
Tags: Bernie Madoff, corporate operations, insurance license, insurance products
“Al” Benelli, CFP™, FIC
Posted in: Financial Authors & Financial Center & Financial Planning |
A.T. “Al” Benelli, CFP™, FIC, Program Director for Boomer-Living.com,is a Certified Financial Planner® practitioner and founder of The Merlin Group, a financial advisory firm located in Trooper,...
The General is Alive and Feeling Better
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
General Motors is doing a whole lot better these days.
Despite posting a loss of more than a billion dollars for the third quarter, the relative improvement is quite noticeable.
GM has even announced...
Tags: american manufacturers, buy American, car giant, General Motors, labor contracts
Numbers Don’t Lie … or Do They?
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
Recently our government released figures showing that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of our nation rose by 3.5 percent — the first increase in five calendar quarters.
The Dow Industrial average...
Tags: calendar quarters, dow industrial average, economic rehabilitation, recession, stimulus
Political Promises Made to be Broken
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
As this article goes to press, it seems that Congress is hell-bent on giving us a health care bill that they promised will not cost the American public a single dime in new taxes.
How many times have...
Tags: federal budget, health benefits program, public health care, rising health care costs, social security benefits
