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Practical Tips for Pre-Retirees

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Rick Ferri Practical Tips for Pre-Retirees

Reading Time: 2 minutes

On today’s Intelligent Money Minute, we’ll interview Rick Ferri on practical tips for pre-retirees. During this episode, Rick provides helpful insight for those who want to set themselves up for retirement. He explains the value of automation because it removes typical investment hinderances.  At Intelligent Investing, we can set up automatic contributions and rebalancing alerts. Above all, we believe that having a disciplined process is one of the best ways to grow one’s wealth. Read more about our wealth management philosophy here.

Check out our previous podcasts with Rick on Three Military Discipline Investing Values and The Impact of Investment Expenses. We’ll be interviewing Rick on several podcasts regarding index investing, behavioral finance, and practical tips for retirees, so be sure to subscribe to our Intelligent Money Minute podcasts.

Rick Ferri is a fellow CFA Charterholder, Marine veteran, author, and owner of Ferri Investment Solutions. He continues to write books and articles, provide educational webinars, and teach financial lectures.

Rick Ferri Bio

Rick Ferri earned a B.S. in Business Administration and an M.S. in Finance. He also holds a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter through the CFA Institute. After college, Rick served as a U.S. Marine Corps officer and fighter pilot for 20 years of active duty and reserve service.

Rick’s investment career spans three decades and offers a history of empowering people to achieve their goals. He landed in the brokerage industry in 1989 where he learned the wrong way to invest. As a result of 10 frustrating years, Rick founded one of the country’s first low-fee investment advisory firms. Rick’s firm grew to a sizable business over the next two decades due to the explosion of interest in low-fee investing. This growth provided good-paying jobs to dozens of people and allowed Rick to take on business partners with whom he generously shared his equity.   

Ferri Investment Solutions is Rick’s new firm. This modern concept provides even greater value to investors by “unbundling” adviser services whereby clients pay only for the time it takes to assist them. In addition, Rick’s industry consulting firm helps other advisers build their investment practices, and he has launched Core-4 Portfolios to provide simple model portfolios for use by a wide variety of investors. 

October 4, 2019- FFN@N (Medicare Planning for Retirees)

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FFN@N

Are you nearing retirement and have healthcare questions or concerns? You won’t want to miss our October 4th First Friday Networking at Noon event featuring Frank LeVett, founder of HealthCare Planners, who will talk about Medicare enrollment and changes for 2020. Be sure to RSVP below.

What is Medicare?

Medicare is the traditional fee-for-service program offered directly through the federal government for people 65 and older. It has deductibles, co-insurance and out of pocket expenses, some with no caps. Medicare is divided into three parts – Part A (inpatient), Part B (outpatient), and Part D (prescription drug).

Medicare Advantage

It is estimated that 30% of people with Medicare get their benefits from Medicare Advantage plans, sometimes called Medicare private health plans.

Medicare Advantage plan companies contract with Medicare and are paid a fixed amount to provide Medicare benefits. The most common types are:

HMO – Health Maintenance Organizations
PPO – Preferred Provider Organizations
PFFS – Private Fee for Service plans
MSA – Medical Saving Accounts

Frank LeVett Bio

Frank founded HealthCare Planners, Inc. (HPI) in 2005. His primary focus with HPI has been the Senior Markets in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and other states for more than 27 years. Frank sold his first Medicare Supplement in 1989, and was hooked on the senior market. This segment of the market is constantly changing and keeps him engaged. Off hours you may find Frank enjoying time his wife Jody, children and 5 grandchildren, or improving his game on the golf course.

 

First Friday Networking at Noon (RSVP)

If you'd like to join our next First Friday Networking at Noon event, please RSVP below. We look forward to networking with you soon.

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September 6, 2019- FFN@N (Social Security Planning)

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FFN@N

 

The Social Security Administration (SSA) indicates that Social Security benefits represent over one-third of income for the elderly–it is important to know when it is optimal to begin payments. Unfortunately, you cannot rely on the SSA to provide the best strategy for you because they don’t know your entire financial situation. Do you know the important benefit filing ages? When should I file? What are the spousal and survivor benefits?  What is the future of social security? Will Social Security even be there when I retire?

On September 6th our First Friday Networking at Noon event featured Hans Blake, CFA, CPA, founder of Intelligent Investing and Tom Theodore, CFP®, who talked about Social Security and some strategies you may want to consider. 

Why was Social Security established?

Social Security was established to provide retirement, survivor and disability insurance to qualified individuals. Benefits are calculated based on the individual’s year of birth, benefits start date, and lifetime earnings. For the average worker, you and your employer both pay into the system by having a certain amount of your paycheck withheld in the form of “FICA,” or Social Security and Medicare taxes.

Am I eligible for Social Security?

Most people need to have 10 full working years–or 40 quarters–of paying into Social Security to be eligible for retirement benefits. To determine your benefit amount, the SSA will calculate your highest 35 years of earnings, with some adjustments.

Social Security Basics

See the PDF below for more information.

Hans Blake, CFA, CPA Bio

Hans is a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) who managed over $350M before founding Intelligent Investing. He has an insatiable desire to learn, and has a unique blend of creativity and attention to detail.

Hans graduated from Bob Jones University in public accounting, before earning a Masters of Accountancy degree from the University of South Carolina Darla Moore School of business. Soon after, he became a licensed CPA and joined a large public accounting firm in Charlotte. Later, he and his wife lived in London while he worked for Deloitte. After their world travels, they returned to his hometown roots of Greenville.

Hans is a father of four and has a passion for orphans and the needy. He is the chairman of the board for Piedmont Women’s Center, a local crisis pregnancy non-profit organization. He and his wife also support an orphanage in Zambia and assist the children’s ministry at Palmetto Baptist Church, where they attend.

 

The Impact of Investment Expenses

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Rick Ferri The Impact of Investment Expenses

Reading Time: 2 minutes

On today’s Intelligent Money Minute, we’ll interview Rick Ferri on the impact of investment expenses on a portfolio. During this episode, Rick provides insight on fees and how they can affect performance. Also, he explains why an active manager’s fee, while being the most affordable, may not be the best. At Intelligent Investing, we understand that minimizing your fees helps lower your hurdle rate, allowing returns to hopefully compound at a faster rate. Learn more about what makes us different, here.

Check out our previous podcasts with Rick on Dangers on Backtesting & Performance Managers and The Power of Passive Investing. We’ll be interviewing Rick on several podcasts regarding index investing, behavioral finance, and practical tips for retirees, so be sure to subscribe to our Intelligent Money Minute podcasts.

Rick Ferri is a fellow CFA Charterholder, Marine veteran, author, and owner of Ferri Investment Solutions. He continues to write books and articles, provide educational webinars, and teach financial lectures.

Rick Ferri Bio

Rick Ferri earned a B.S. in Business Administration and an M.S. in Finance. He also holds a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter through the CFA Institute. After college, Rick served as a U.S. Marine Corps officer and fighter pilot for 20 years of active duty and reserve service.

Rick’s investment career spans three decades and offers a history of empowering people to achieve their goals. He landed in the brokerage industry in 1989 where he learned the wrong way to invest. As a result of 10 frustrating years, Rick founded one of the country’s first low-fee investment advisory firms. Rick’s firm grew to a sizable business over the next two decades due to the explosion of interest in low-fee investing. This growth provided good-paying jobs to dozens of people and allowed Rick to take on business partners with whom he generously shared his equity. Rick left the firm a few years ago and is no longer an owner.  

Ferri Investment Solutions is Rick’s new firm. This modern concept provides even greater value to investors by “unbundling” adviser services whereby clients pay only for the time it takes to assist them. In addition, Rick’s industry consulting firm helps other advisers build their investment practices, and he has launched Core-4 Portfolios to provide simple model portfolios for use by a wide variety of investors. 

Dangers of Backtesting Performance & Managers

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Rick Ferri Survivorship Bias

Reading Time: 2 minutes

On today’s Intelligent Money Minute, we’ll interview Rick Ferri on surviviorship bias and the dangers of backtesting performance and managers. During this episode, Rick defines survivorship bias and how it can skew one’s investing strategy. He explains how dataset information can be inaccurate due to the exclusion of closed funds. In conclusion, Rick highlights the difficulty in outperforming the market.

At Intelligent Investing, you are the center of our wealth management philosophy. For that reason, we want to get to know you, your family relationships, your dreams, and goals, and not just on a surface-level conversation. Read more about our wealth management philosophy.

Check out our previous podcasts with Rick on The Power of Passive Investing and Remembering the Legacy of Jack Bogle. We’ll be interviewing Rick on several podcasts regarding index investing, behavioral finance, and practical tips for retirees, so be sure to subscribe to our Intelligent Money Minute podcasts.

Rick Ferri is a fellow CFA Charterholder, Marine veteran, author, and owner of Ferri Investment Solutions. He continues to write books and articles, provide educational webinars, and teach financial lectures.

Rick Ferri Bio

Rick Ferri earned a B.S. in Business Administration and an M.S. in Finance. He also holds a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter through the CFA Institute. After college, Rick served as a U.S. Marine Corps officer and fighter pilot for 20 years of active duty and reserve service.

Rick’s investment career spans three decades and offers a history of empowering people to achieve their goals. He landed in the brokerage industry in 1989 where he learned the wrong way to invest. As a result of 10 frustrating years, Rick founded one of the country’s first low-fee investment advisory firms. Rick’s firm grew to a sizable business over the next two decades due to the explosion of interest in low-fee investing. This growth provided good-paying jobs to dozens of people and allowed Rick to take on business partners with whom he generously shared his equity. Rick left the firm a few years ago and is no longer an owner.  

Ferri Investment Solutions is Rick’s new firm. This modern concept provides even greater value to investors by “unbundling” adviser services whereby clients pay only for the time it takes to assist them. In addition, Rick’s industry consulting firm helps other advisers build their investment practices, and he has launched Core-4 Portfolios to provide simple model portfolios for use by a wide variety of investors. 

You’re Not Alone When Placing a Parent in a Nursing Home

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Bev Flaxington You're Not Alone When Placing a Parent in a Nursing Home

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On today’s Intelligent Money Minute, we’ll interview Beverly Flaxington on realizing that you are not alone when placing a parent in a nursing home. Making the decision on whether or not to place a parent or spouse in a nursing home can be complicated and burdensome. The life adjustment that will ensue can take a significant toll on the family, so you need to be prepared. During this episode, Bev stresses the importance of implementing a network of friends and family to provide emotional and physical support. Our previous podcasts with Bev highlighted Should You Put Your Parents In Assisted Living? and How to Handle Long Term Care Regret.

The Hardest Decision a Child Will Make is a blog that talks about this tough subject. We’ll be interviewing Beverly on several podcasts regarding behavioral finance, and the emotional journeys one can embark on during retirement, so be sure to subscribe to our Intelligent Money Minute podcasts.

Beverly Flaxington, American businesswoman and founder of The Collaborative, holds the trademarked moniker, Human Behavior Coach®. She received this title for her years in professional consulting and the human behavior development industry. Also, Flaxington has authored seven books on personal and professional development.

Beverly Flaxington Bio

In addition to being a coach on changing human behavior, she is a three-time bestselling and Gold-award winning author, an international speaker, behavioral expert, and business development expert.

Bev has created a number of proprietary approaches to changing human behavior and helping companies reach excellence. In addition, she blogs for Psychology Today and answers human-related questions in Advisor Perspectives Magazine.

In 1995, Bev co-founded The Collaborative, a sales and marketing consultancy. The firm provides strategic and tactical support to help financial services and wealth management firms reach higher levels of effectiveness. The Collaborative specializes in delivering effective coaching, training, and proprietary consulting services. 

 

June 7, 2019- FFN@N- Just Trust Me: Role of a Corporate Trustee

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FFN@N

Have you ever wondered why people create trusts and wondered what they are used for? Are you planning on leaving an inheritance to a special needs beneficiary? Are you concerned about a child or grandchild becoming a spendthrift after you are gone? Our June 7th First Friday Networking at Noon event featured Shelton Tate, Vice President and Trust Officer for Arthur State Bank. Shelton presented an overview of the role of a corporate trustee and answered several trust questions.

 

Shelton M. Tate Bio

Shelton is a Vice President and Trust Officer for Arthur State Bank. He joined Arthur State Bank in 2017. A graduate of Auburn University with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Human Development and Family Studies, Shelton also received his J.D. from the Charlotte School of Law. He has been admitted to the practice of law in South Carolina since 2013. Prior to joining Arthur State Bank, Shelton worked as a trust officer with U.S. Trust in Atlanta, GA as well as a financial advisor with an independent wealth management firm in Spartanburg. Shelton and his wife, Virginia, are Spartanburg natives and have three children, Gamble, Walker, and Francie.

  • Charlotte School of Law, Charlotte, NC, Juris Doctorate (2013)
  • Auburn University, Auburn, AL, Bachelor of Science (2007)
  • Admitted to SC Bar (2013)
  • Greenville Estate Planning Council Member
  • Spartanburg Estate Planning Council Member
  • South Carolina Young Lawyers Division Member
  • South Carolina Bar Probate and Estate Planning Section Member

 

How To Handle Long Term Care Regret

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Bev Flaxington How To Handle Long Term Care Regret

Reading Time: 1 minute

On today’s Intelligent Money Minute, we’ll interview Beverly Flaxington on how to handle regret when placing a parent in a long-term care facility. Guilt and regret can arise after deciding to place a parent into assisted living. During this episode, Bev provides practical steps to navigating through regret while making this emotional transition. To gain more insight on this topic, here is a previous blog on The Hardest Decision a Child Will Have to Make. Our previous podcasts with Bev highlighted Emotionally Transitioning Into Retirement and Should You Put Your Parents In Assisted Living?

We’ll be interviewing Beverly on several podcasts regarding behavioral finance, and the emotional journeys one can embark on during retirement, so be sure to subscribe to our Intelligent Money Minute podcasts.

Beverly Flaxington, American businesswoman and founder of The Collaborative, holds the trademarked moniker, Human Behavior Coach®. She received this title for her years in professional consulting and the human behavior development industry. Also, Flaxington has authored seven books on personal and professional development.

Beverly Flaxington Bio

In addition to being a coach on changing human behavior, she is a three-time bestselling and Gold-award winning author, an international speaker, behavioral expert, and business development expert.

Bev has created a number of proprietary approaches to changing human behavior and helping companies reach excellence. In addition, she blogs for Psychology Today and answers human-related questions in Advisor Perspectives Magazine.

In 1995, Bev co-founded The Collaborative, a sales and marketing consultancy. The firm provides strategic and tactical support to help financial services and wealth management firms reach higher levels of effectiveness. The Collaborative specializes in delivering effective coaching, training, and proprietary consulting services.