Podcasts – Mercer Advisors

The post Wealth and Tax Strategy Under the New Administration with Susan Travis Podcast appeared first on Mercer Advisors.

With the change in administrations, 2021 promises to bring new challenges & opportunities to the estate planning arena. Get info on managing your wealth effectively into the future amid the changes.

The post Equity Compensation Part 3: Managing Concentrated Stock Risk appeared first on Mercer Advisors.

If you work for a company that offers stock options, a discounted stock purchasing program, or some other type of equity compensation, how do you decide whether it’s the right choice for you?

For employees of both public and privately held companies, equity compensation such as stock options or co-ownership can create a significant opportunity to grow wealth. However, participating in this type of award plan also carries some financial risk and requires careful management.

The post First Quarter 2020 Update on the Markets appeared first on Mercer Advisors.

Capital markets posted some modest gains in recent weeks after falling sharply at the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic in early March. However, the timeline of a more lasting financial recovery remains unclear as this crisis continues to shut down large segments of the economy. In this podcast episode, Mercer Advisors Chief Investment Officer Don Calcagni joins host Doug Fabian to look at how the current bear market is evolving. Tune in for their perspectives on: Stock returns in the banking, tech, REIT, and FAANG sectors How the market could respond to extended social-distancing restrictions, progress toward a COVID-19 vaccine, and other potential developments later this year What the market recovery will look like and how long it will take Long-term economic impacts of the U.S. government’s $4 trillion-plus borrowing binge Whether retirees should consider moving some money out of stocks in the current climate How investors should think about bonds and other fixed-income options during this crisis

As doctors and scientists worldwide race to develop effective treatments and a vaccine for COVID-19, U.S. lawmakers are working to counter the economic hardship from this crisis. In March, U.S. households and small businesses started receiving financial help through the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

The post Market Impacts from Coronavirus and Oil Price Wars appeared first on Mercer Advisors.

Earlier this year we identified the three E’s during our January quarterly markets update webinar: exogenous shocks, earnings, and the election. The exogenous shock on March 9, Saudi Arabia getting into a price war with the Russians, has taken center stage of the three Es with earnings soon to come. What does this mean for the market, our economy, and your portfolio?

Sparked by millennials and others seeking to back companies that create positive environmental, social, and economic change, the volume of U.S. assets targeted toward socially responsible investing (SRI) approached $12 trillion by the end of 2018. How should investors consider as they approach this fast-growing SRI realm?

Growing up, Alise Kraus watched her mother struggle to make confident decisions about money and find unbiased financial counsel. That experience steered Alise toward becoming a Certified Financial PlannerTM and, more recently, specializing in the unique wealth management needs of female clients at Mercer Advisors.

Growing up, Alise Kraus watched her mother struggle to make confident decisions about money and find unbiased financial counsel. That experience steered Alise toward becoming a Certified Financial PlannerTM and, more recently, specializing in the unique wealth management needs of female clients at Mercer Advisors. In this podcast, Alise examines three of the most common obstacles that women—and to an extent, all investors—encounter on their journey toward economic freedom. Then, she and host Doug Fabian lay out six strategies for clearing those roadblocks and asserting greater financial control. Alise’s encouraging words hold value for anyone who has felt conflicted about their relationship with money or who wants to help someone else—a mother, daughter, sister, friend—take the reins in their financial life.  

The costs of professional long-term care can grow to several hundred thousand dollars a year—potentially draining your retirement assets or family members’ resources.

An estimated 52 to 70 percent of people who reach age 85 will eventually need some form of long-term assistance with daily activities such as feeding, washing, dressing, and mobility. The costs of professional long-term care can grow to several hundred thousand dollars a year-potentially draining your retirement assets or family members' resources. Long-term care (LTC) insurance is one way to help ease the burden and safeguard your savings. However, there are many factors to consider before you choose a policy. In this podcast episode, host Doug Fabian and guest David Haman, a Certified Financial PlannerTM in the Philadelphia office of Mercer Advisors, discuss: The types of LTC support that people often need as they age, from in-home rehabilitation services to a full-time care facility The cost of LTC services, which can vary dramatically depending on the level of care required and what state you live in The various forms of LTC insurance, different options for customizing your benefits, and monthly premium amounts you can expect to pay The tax implications of purchasing LTC insurance, including potential deductibility of the premium costs and taxability of LTC benefit payouts How soon to start considering LTC insurance, and how your expected net wealth in retirement may influence the decision David also explains why people should start by sitting down with their wealth management advisor to create a financial plan, which can help reveal whether a "long-term care coverage gap" exists and what other estate planning options may be helpful.

The post Financial Mistakes: The Dumb Things People Do With their Money appeared first on Mercer Advisors.

People who are successful and wise in other areas of their life may still be prone to making poor financial decisions—as many of us have learned from experience. Why does that happen so often? And what can we do about it? Jill Schlesinger, a nationally syndicated financial columnist and award-winning business analyst for CBS News, shares some answers from her new book The Dumb Things Smart People Do With Their Money: 13 Ways to Right Your Financial Wrongs. Money tends to be a very emotional topic, as Jill explains in this episode. Fear and greed in particular can cloud people’s financial vision, causing them to act against their better judgment. Fortunately, she says, recognizing these emotional triggers can give us the capacity to change our money management behavior. Check out the podcast for more of Jill’s insights on: · How to avoid buying financial products or services that you don’t fully understand · The difference between objective wealth management advice and a sales pitch · What families often fail to anticipate or discuss before incurring a heavy debt for college · Why preparing a clear-cut estate plan and getting other financial paperwork in order is one of the most unselfish gifts you can give your family  

More than 650,000 so-called financial advisors in this country are eager to recommend how you should invest your money. However, not all of them are required to uphold your best interests above all. How do you sort through different companies’ claims to find an advisor who’s truly focused on doing what’s right for you? In this episode of The Science of Economic Freedom, I delve into why so many investors get poor advice at their expense. My guest Matt Cook, a Certified Financial PlannerTM with Mercer Advisors, shares one crucial reason: Not all financial representatives are bound by the same rules. About 83% of advisors follow the suitability standard, which allows them to promote their own company’s investment products—while earning a commission on what they sell—provided the investments are suitable for their clients’ goals. By contrast, says Matt, he and other Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) are required under the fiduciary standard to put clients’ best interests ahead of their own. Matt provides several other tips for evaluating different advisors, including three questions to ask yourself: · Am I getting clarity or confusion out of our conversations? · Do the investment options in front of me feel relevant to my personal situation? · Is my advisor proactively working to guide me through the various stages in my financial life? He also talks about what distinguishes comprehensive wealth management from simple investment advice, and how the financial services industry has changed over the past 20 years. If you’re looking for reliable tools to help you choose a trustworthy guide on your wealth management journey, then give Episode 44 a listen.  

The post How To Choose A Financial Advisor appeared first on Mercer Advisors.

The post Do Women Make Better Investors – with Laura Cuber appeared first on Mercer Advisors.

Are women better investors than men? Is gender-based performance a real thing? What can we learn from research to improve our investment returns? In episode 43 of the Science of Economic Freedom, I spoke with Laura Cuber, CFP and Client Advisor in our Chicago branch, to talk about men, women, and money. Laura talks about her experience as a female advisor and working with women client. Laura walks us through some of the research she has found about women, money, investing, and the impact of gender. Topics included in this episode: • Gender-based performance, what is it and why do women outperform? • Do men trade more than women and if so what is the impact on their long-term return? • How do women’s risk aversion impact their decisions? • What we can learn about women and investing behavior • The value of a financial plan and how women tend to focus on this plan more than men • Actions steps you can take today to get started on your path to Economic Freedom

The post Resetting Your Financial Goals for 2019 appeared first on Mercer Advisors.

An opportunity to push the reset button in the new year is great, but how do you actually go about doing it correctly? In Episode 42 of the Science of Economic Freedom, “Time to Reset Your Financial Goals for 2019,” I provide you with some precise steps on how to do just that. The process begins with defining a vision for your financial future. What do you want that future to look like? What do you not want that future to look like? After defining a vision, you need to set concrete goals designed to help you make that vision a reality. Some of these goals are broad, and some are very specific, such as you want to hire a new accountant, or you want to pay off a specific debt. The next step is to write down three specific goals that you want to achieve in 2019. Examples here could be to save 10% or more of what you earn, or to fully fund your retirement accounts, or to generate $50,000 in spendable income from your existing assets. Finally, I show you how to “SMART” test your goals to see if they are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and if they fit your Timeline. If you’re looking to reboot your finances and get them functioning properly in 2019, then Episode 42 is for you. Topics included in this discussion: How to reset your financial goals in 2019 Defining a vision of your financial future Setting goals and writing down specific goals to achieve in 2019 How to “SMART” test your goals Examples of how to define, and then refine, specific goals Action steps to get your house in order Plus, much, much more…  

2018 Market Scorecard and Your Path to Success in 2019

The post Episode 40: How to Prepare for a Successful 2019 appeared first on Mercer Advisors.

The post Episode 39: Talking Markets with Don Calcagni appeared first on Mercer Advisors.

The post Episode 38: Year-end Tax Planning 2018 appeared first on Mercer Advisors.

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The post Episode 37: Your Post-Election Market Update appeared first on Mercer Advisors.

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The post Episode 36: When to Sell a Stock, Mutual Fund or ETF appeared first on Mercer Advisors.

In this episode of the Science of Economic Freedom, “Volatility Ahead of the Election,” we discuss what you really need to do right now—and you’ll be surprised to learn that it doesn’t have much to do with buying and selling equities. Some of the key issues we cover in this episode include: A rundown of the numbers in the major indices, and how the second correction in the equity markets this year is playing out. How to reinterpret hyperbolic headlines and why this market correction is normal. How our “factor investing” approach to markets helps Mercer Advisors manage client portfolios during market downturns. Should investors be doing anything differently right now from an asset allocation standpoint? What could happen to stocks if Democrats gain control of the House of Representatives? The prognosis for emerging markets over the next couple of years. Why you shouldn’t be worried about the daily action in stocks prices, and why you should be focused on what you are in control of in your financial life. The “dos” and “don’ts” of how to approach the markets—and your financial life. These issues, and much more, are discussed in much greater detail in our new feature on the Mercer Advisors’ website, and it’s our latest client webinar. This webinar was recorded this week, and features Chief Investment Officer Don Calcagni, Chairman Emeritus Drew Kanaly, and Podcast Host Doug Fabian. To listen to this client webinar, simply click here.  

The post Episode 34: How to Fund College without Going Broke appeared first on Mercer Advisors.

Why do you need a financial plan? Everyone basically knows they do, but what’s the real value of having a sound financial plan in place? - The short answer is having a proper, well-designed financial plan can literally change your life for the better,...

In this special bonus episode of the Science of Economic Freedom, “Your Financial Market Update,” I dig through the performance details of the major market indices to see how the respective sectors performed last quarter, and year to date. -

Did you know that cash flow can be as important, and possibly even more important, than your investment returns? - On this episode of the Science of Economic Freedom, “Why Cash Flow Matters,” I speak with Al Zdenek, author of the best-selling book,

We’re now in the 10th year of a bull market, and it’s been one marked by historically low volatility. Sure, we’ve had a few corrections since 2008, including a 10% pullback off the highs early this year. And though investors have been conditioned over ...

Do you have a highly concentrated position in a stock, mutual fund or exchange-traded fund (ETF)? Do you have a plan in place to reduce the risk and manage this position in a tax-efficient manner? - In a recent episode of the Science of Economic Freed...

Many people have an overabundance of wealth tied up in what’s commonly called a “highly concentrated position.” This is basically an asset on your balance sheet that represents a large portion of your net worth. -

In this episode of the Science of Economic Freedom podcast, “How to Navigate a Stock Market Correction,” we discuss the proper mindset needed to ensure you succeed during the inevitable periods of market weakness. -

In this episode of the Science of Economic Freedom podcast, “What You Need to Know About Medicare,” David Haman, client advisor at Mercer Advisors, returns to discuss his vast knowledge of this government program,

In this special bonus episode of the Science of Economic Freedom podcast, “A Factor Investing Q&A,” I provide a general overview of Factor Investing, and I answer many of the great questions from my recent presentation in Boston, MA,

In this episode of the Science of Economic Freedom podcast, “Are You Where You Want to Be on Your Journey to Economic Freedom?”, we start with some eye-openings statistics. - According to my data: Only 30% of Americans are financially literate.

In this special bonus episode of the Science of Economic Freedom podcast, “Revisiting Factor Investing,” I speak with Don Calcagni, Chief Investment Officer at Mercer Advisor. Don is an expert on factor investing, and his breadth of knowledge will educate and enhance your understanding of the subject, and the role factor investing can and likely should play in a well-rounded investment portfolio. In this podcast, you’ll discover: An overview of what factor investing is Why we believe so strongly in factor investing at Mercer Advisors A summary of the “five-factor model” of investing How factor investing can be achieved using a variety of investment vehicles, including traditional mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) Which factors outperformed, and which underperformed, in H1, 2018 How to think about allocating among the different factors Factor analysis as applied to fixed-income investments The challenges in the current market environment (e.g. rising rates, yield curve flattening, trade wars, etc.) Plus, much more Don Calcagni is one of the smartest guys in the industry. And, listening to him speak about markets and factor investing is like sitting in on a maestro’s master class. If you want to get a grip on factor investing, this is the episode for you.

In this special bonus episode of the Science of Economic Freedom podcast, “Revisiting Factor Investing,” I speak with Don Calcagni, Chief Investment Officer at Mercer Advisors. Don is an expert on factor investing, and his breadth of knowledge will educate and enhance your understanding of the subject, and the role factor investing can and likely should play in a well-rounded investment portfolio. In this podcast, you’ll discover: An overview of what factor investing is Why we believe so strongly in factor investing at Mercer Advisors A summary of the “five-factor model” of investing How factor investing can be achieved using a variety of investment vehicles, including traditional mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) Which factors outperformed, and which underperformed, in H1, 2018 How to think about allocating among the different factors Factor analysis as applied to fixed-income investments The challenges in the current market environment (e.g. rising rates, yield curve flattening, trade wars, etc.) Plus, much more   Don Calcagni is one of the smartest guys in the industry. And, listening to him speak about markets and factor investing is like sitting in on a maestro’s master class. If you want to get a grip on factor investing, this is the episode for you.

In this episode of the Science of Economic Freedom podcast, “Best Practices in Estate Planning,” I speak with Jeremiah H. Barlow, JD, Head of Family Wealth Services at Mercer Advisors. Jeremiah is an expert in estate planning,

  In this episode of the Science of Economic Freedom podcast, “The Absolute Best Estate Planning Practices,” I speak with Jeremiah H. Barlow, JD, Head of Family Wealth Services at Mercer Advisors. Jeremiah is an expert in estate planning, and he has a unique way of explaining the sometimes-difficult concepts associated with this subject in an easily understandable, anecdotal, and entertaining way. In this podcast, you’ll find out: The latest thinking when it comes to estate planning for Mercer Advisors’ clients. Strategies deployed today that could have a meaningful impact on legacy planning. What has changed on the estate-planning front because of the new tax laws. The importance of medical directives. The best and worst states for estate tax issues. The 2012 Supreme Court ruling that changed the law regarding inherited IRAs. The benefits of a retirement trust. Avoiding the mishandling of beneficiary designations. Making sure you adjust your estate plan for legal and life changes. Plus, much more. Estate planning is one of those areas of personal finance that tends to go without attention for years and years, but it shouldn’t. If you want to expand your knowledge of estate planning, a good start is my discussion here with Jeremiah.    

In this special bonus episode of the Science of Economic Freedom podcast, “Market Scoreboard for the First Half of 2018, Part II,” we continue to look at the tailwinds likely to fuel the earnings sails, including tax reform, low unemployment,

In this special bonus episode of the Science of Economic Freedom podcast, “Market Scoreboard for the First Half of 2018, Part II,” we continue to look at the tailwinds likely to fuel the earnings sails, including tax reform, low unemployment, modestly rising interest rates, solid wage growth and modest inflation, as well as a growing global economy that continues to perform despite trade war threats. Additional topics in this show include: Assessing your current market exposure How to determine your level of diversification The importance over time of having a balanced portfolio How to develop a bear market game plan Knowing your time horizon Plus, much more… If you want to put a bow on the first half of the year, and if you want to be ready for what’s in store in the back half, then this episode of the podcast is aimed right at you.

How did the markets perform in the first half of 2018? How do you make sense of all the market action through the first half? In this special bonus episode of the Science of Economic Freedom podcast, we go over all of the key market data from the first...