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A.T. "Al" Benelli, CFP, FIC
Al Benelli is a Certified Financial Planner® practitioner with Long Financial Group of Plymouth Meeting, 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. Securities and Investment advice offered through Cadaret-Grant & Co. member FINRA/SIPC.
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To Trust or Not to Trust… That is the Question?
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
Late last month I received a newsletter from my old friend and colleague, Sam Swansen. For those of who don’t know Sam he’s an attorney, an author and an expert on matters of estate transfers. His...
Tags: Boomer-Living, estate planning, heirs, trusts
What’s the Right Amount to Draw from Your Retirement Fund Each Year?
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
With stagnant incomes and roller-coaster investment returns over the past decade, the Financial Planning Association of Washington, DC wonders if investors are asking themselves, “What became of all...
Tags: lifespan, nest egg, rules of thumb, treasury inflation protected securities
Some Annuities Offer to Pay for Long-Term Care
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
Current estimates from AARP put the annual cost of a nursing home at a national average of $78,000. Older Americans, struggling to reassemble their retirement plans from the worst economic downturn in...
Tags: deferred annuity, disabled people, financial expert, long term care, pension protection act
A Summer-time Financial Checkup Can Make For a Better Year
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
This is not the time of year when everyone wants to stay indoors with their finances… but summer’s actually a good time to review them because there’s still enough time left to correct lapses in...
Tags: college savings, emergency fund, living expenses, necessary goals, tax planning
Ponzi Schemes Beg the Question: ‘Who’s Minding the Store?’
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
There’s an old expression in the financial services industry that goes something like, “It’s hard to tell who’s swimming naked until the tide goes out!” I’ve used it several times to describe...
Tags: Bernie Madoff, investment scams, ponzi schemes, securities laws
The Economic Recovery, Revolution Act of 2010
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
As we have just celebrated our independence amidst the pall of a nearly comatose economic recovery, wouldn’t it be nice to see some glimpse of leadership coming from our government? Well, if they’re...
Tags: american cars, economic recovery, foreign cars, fuel efficiency, labor unions
Many Benefits to Utilizing a Family Mission Statement
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
A family doesn’t need a surname like Rockefeller or Vanderbilt to benefit from a family mission statement. According to the Financial Planning Association of Washington, D.C. a mission statement is a...
Tags: charitable pursuits, family assets, family dynamics, financial planning association, Money Matters
Feel Like Un-Retiring? How to Prepare
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
According to a press release by the Financial Planning Association, almost 93 percent of the net increase in the U.S. civilian labor force between 2006 and 2016 will be 55 or older. Many American workers...
Tags: age discrimination, economic downturn, financial planning association, health insurance issues, retirement
Three Most Important Factors Are All Alike
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
It is often said that the three most important factors in real estate are location, location, location. I assume the person who created this idiom was trying to impress upon all the belief that nothing...
Tags: important factors, negative cash flow, stocks and bonds, true diversification
Debt ‘Rooster’ Comes Home to Roost
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
Deficit spending — it’s a term we hear so often that I’m beginning to believe we’ve become numb or desensitized to its meaning.
Simply put, it means spending more money than you have; sending...
Tags: american taxpayers, debt crisis, early retirement, financial trouble, government influences
Non-Planners May Be Getting Nervous
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
We have an expression in this business that goes like this: “It’s hard to tell who’s swimming naked until the tide goes out!” The wild gyrations of the stock market in the past few weeks and the...
Tags: declines, financial planner, insurance policy, retirement plan, stock broker
Try to Avoid These Stupid IRA Mistakes
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
It’s been just about a month since the traditional IRS Income Tax filing deadline of April 15. Many of us either took advantage of our IRAs last year or we now we wish we had. Since it’s not to late...
Tags: eligible rollover distribution, retirement strategy, tax filing deadline, traditional ira
Things College Grads Should Do To Plan
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
The Class of 2010 is stepping into an uncertain job market with big financial responsibilities and likely a bunch of debt.
With that in mind, smart grads might consider some of these ideas from the...
Tags: financial planner, financial responsibilities, graduation money, saving for retirement
Does It Make Sense to Sell a Death Benefit For Cash?
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
One of the most important decisions to make about any asset is the end game – how it will be sold or passed on. People don’t always think of life insurance as an asset, but during this tough economy,...
Tags: healthcare costs, important decisions, life insurance policy, loan value
Plan Your Family’s Summer Vacation at Bargain Rates
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
The U.S. economy may be recovering, but travel experts say the vacation deals available last year are still going to be around for stingy travelers this year. With that in mind, here are some ways the...
Tags: flexibility, fly standby, home exchange, travel experts
Tax-Advantaged Savings as Your Grandkid’s Graduation Gift?
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
Graduation season begins soon, and for grandparents looking to do something nice for their grandkids and something sensible for their estate, there are several options to explore according to the Financial...
Tags: 529 college savings, gift tax exclusion, grandkids, grandparents
Things to Consider for Retirement
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
Each and every day, approximately 10,000 baby boomers celebrate their 65th birthday. Most people identify the arrival of age 65 with the event of “retirement” and the receipt of Social Security benefits....
Tags: social security, social security benefits, social security retirement
Going Green Can Save Big Green
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
“Going green” gets plenty of environmental attention, but people often forget that environmentally smart behavior can save money as well. Help celebrate Earth Day (April 22) by doing a “green check”...
Tags: earth day april 22, going green, internal audit, smart plans
Tax Savings You Shouldn’t Forget
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
Whether you prepare your taxes yourself or work with a professional, it’s possible to miss key deductions for the 2009 tax year.
According to the Financial Planning Association, here are some of the...
Tags: financial planning association, income taxes, irs web site, retirement account
Think a Tax Refund Loan Sounds Good? Think Again
Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |
You’ve probably heard the pitches for “refund anticipation checks” or “quick tax loans.” The official name is refund anticipation loans, or RALs. They’re marketed primarily to cash-poor taxpayers...
Tags: early tax refunds, financial planner, interest free loans, tax strategy
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
