FEATURE

The Power of Working Alongside Niche Advisors with Evon Mendrin (Ep. 13)

Financial Planning, Money Advisor, Retirement, Risk Management, Uncategorized, Wealth, , , , , , , , ,

In financial planning, no one knows everything. But specialized advisors provide a focus for your specific situation.

In this episode, Michael Labos is joined by Evon Mendrin, founder of Optometry Wealth Advisors and host of The Optometry Money Podcast. Together, they unpack the role of specialized financial advisors within the financial services industry as well as their value to you!

Evon discusses:

  • The importance of preparation in financial and tax planning
  • Why specialized financial advisors exist
  • The power of niche advisors
  • The importance of researching financial advisors before committing
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Michael Labos:

Connect with Evon Mendrin:

About Our Guest:

Evon Mendrin is the founder and lead advisor at Optometry Wealth Advisors LLC. Evon helps optometrists build wealth, master their money, and plan purposefully with their finances. Evon is fascinated by their profession and businesses and is here to help optometrists better understand the financial health of their practices and how it impacts the financial health of their household.



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FEATURE

Here are the Top 5 Questions Financial Advisors are Getting Asked (Ep.12)

Financial Planning, Money Advisor, Retirement, Risk Management, Uncategorized, Wealth, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

There are always questions asked upon learning someone’s profession. 

What about you? What are you getting asked?

Now, what about financial advisors. Are you wondering about the top questions they are getting asked? 

In this episode, Michael Labos shares some of the questions people ask when finding out about his profession as a financial advisor. Michael reveals some of the best answers he has while unveiling the considerations for different age groups when it comes to their financial and retirement planning.

Michael discusses:

  • Types of student loans and the importance of paying off debt 
  • The impact of interest rates and income when it comes to home and auto investments
  • Ways tax laws are changing tax strategies
  • Why you shouldn’t compare yourself to your peers
  • His approach to helping Gen Xers get on track with their financial planning 
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Michael Labos:

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FEATURE

Here’s How To Thrive In a Bear Market (Ep.11)

Financial Planning, Money Advisor, Retirement, Risk Management, Uncategorized, Wealth, , , , , , , , , ,

It’s no secret that bear markets can be terrifying. However, with effective strategies and knowledge, there are hidden opportunities. 

In this episode, Michael Labos dives into how Gen Xers can increase their investment confidence during a bear market. He reveals how long bear markets last, why they aren’t as scary as many believe, and the opportunities that can be gained during one.

Michael discusses:

  • The definition of a bear market
  • How risk tolerance impacts ideal investment options
  • The role of taxes when it comes to bear markets
  • The truth about retirement plans and bear markets 
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Michael Labos:

 

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FEATURE

Ensuring The Future of Drivers with Tim Rogers (Ep.10)

Financial Planning, Money Advisor, Retirement, Risk Management, Uncategorized, Wealth, , , , , , , ,

Having a driver’s license means freedom of exploring without relying on family and friends.

However, a driver’s license also leads to fear and uncertainty around insurance premiums. 

In this episode, Micheal Labos is joined by Tim Rogers, president and owner of Rogers Driving School. Tim shares tips of the trade for new drivers and teens looking to take the test — revealing the benefits of driving and driver education and the cost of insurance.

Tim discusses:

  • One of the biggest problems when parents teach their children to drive
  • The benefits of driving and driver education
  • Ways insurance premiums increase with teen drivers
  • What the future holds for autonomous vehicles
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Tim Rogers:

Connect with Michael Labos:

About Our Guest:

Tim Rogers is the president of Rogers School of Driving Inc. He is a graduate of Slipper Rock University (Summa Cum Laude) with a minor in driver education. He is also a graduate of Duquesne University School of Law and is a licensed attorney in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Tim grew up in the driving school industry and has been a certified driving instructor since 1984. He is also a driving examiner and administers the PA driving test as a third-party examiner for the PA Department of Transportation (PennDOT). As president of Rogers School of Driving Inc., Tim operates Greater Pittsburgh’s oldest and largest private driving school. Prior to becoming the school’s president, he was its director of operations for many years. Over the years, he has taught countless behind-the-wheel driving lessons and driver education theory classes and has conducted thousands of driver licensing examinations.

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FEATURE

Avoiding Lifestyle Drift (Ep. 9)

Financial Planning, Money Advisor, Retirement, Risk Management, Wealth, , , , , , , , ,

Many people want to put off budgeting, complaining about how boring or depressing it is. 

What many don’t consider are the gains granted from understanding your spending habits. 

In this episode, Michael Labos discusses the importance of creating a budget, understanding your financial goals and avoiding lifestyle drift. He reveals the wasted financial opportunities through unnecessary spending and unused subscriptions, diving into control and monetary gains from creating a budget.

Michael discusses:

  • The importance of understanding what you will be spending in retirement
  • The different types of budgets
  • How taking control of the budget saves money
  • Why budgeting is important for financial and retirement planning
  • And more!

Resources:

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FEATURE

The World of ESG Investment Opportunities with Chris Huemmer (Ep. 8)

Financial Planning, Money Advisor, Retirement, Risk Management, Wealth, , , , , , , , , ,

Are you constantly keeping up with the planet’s environmental and societal impact

If you are, remember, your investments should equally reflect your views.

In this episode, Michael Labos is joined by the senior investment strategist at Northern Trust, Chris Huemmer. Expanding on each letter within the acronym, Chris dives into the diverse topic of ESG investing. He also reveals the impact of financial advisors not understanding ESG and how it relates to future investments. 

Chris discusses:

  • What ESG stands for
  • How ESG relates to investment selections
  • How companies are evaluated within ESG buckets
  • Why do some clients look elsewhere for ESG investment advice
  • And more!

Resources:

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Connect with Michael Labos:

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FEATURE

7. Time Management Tips You Need To Get Work Done Now with Patty Kreamer

Financial Planning, Money Advisor, Retirement, Risk Management, Uncategorized, Wealth, , , , , , , , , ,

Gen Xers tend to push themselves, whether they say yes to everything or try to complete every task by themselves.

But remember,  this mindset can eventually lead to some unnecessary burnout.

In this episode, Michael Labos is joined by Patty Kreamer, certified professional organizer, productivity coach, and owner of Productivity Uncorked. Patty shares her tips for dealing with procrastination, reasons why you need to create to-do lists, and the importance of delegating. She reveals how she schedules her time based on her job description and the benefits it grants to her own time management.

Patty discusses:

  • The importance of saying no
  • Why you should create a physical to-do list
  • How delegating grants you time
  • How to schedule your time according to your job description
  • And more!

Connect with Patty Kreamer:

Connect with Michael Labos:

About our Guest:

As a productivity coach, Patty Kreamer guides her clients to take back control of their life and time. She helps financial advisors to develop personalized systems to get more done in less time while clearing the brain clutter that blocks success. She is known for creating efficiency with workspace, email, time, and attention. Everyone has a vision of what life was supposed to look like, but not everyone has made it happen. Through her work, Patty helps our clients reconnect with what’s most important and go from saying things like “I feel like I’ve missed my kid’s childhood” to “I’ve attended every school play and soccer game for my son and daughter this year.”

 

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FEATURE

Adding Long Term Care To Retirement Planning (Ep.22)

Financial Planning, Money Advisor, Retirement, Risk Management, Uncategorized, Wealth, , , , ,

When planning your retirement, long-term care needs will also play a role in future spending. Planning for it today could save you money in the future.

In this episode, Micheal Labos dives further into accepting mortality and preparing aging parents for long-term care needs. He shares the advice he gives to clients on balancing costs while preparing a legacy for beneficiaries and some solutions that couldn’t be considered 20 years ago.

Micheal discusses:

  • What to consider when planning for long-term care
  • Why spouses aren’t the best option for long-term caregivers
  • The benefits and detriments of Medicare and Medicaid
  • How to prepare for the cost of long-term care
  • And more!

Resources:

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FEATURE

6. Eliminate Excuses For Not Exercising with Susan Ceklosky

Financial Planning, Money Advisor, Retirement, Risk Management, Wealth, ,

Everyone wants to stay healthy. The problems come when you start making excuses not to exercise and eat healthy.

In this episode, Michael Labos is joined by Susan Ceklosky, weight loss coach, licensed sports nutritionist, and owner of Positively Fit U. Susan shares her tips and tricks for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. From stopping excuses preventing your exercise to creating long-term goals and short-term rewards to keep you on track.

Susan discusses:

  • Tips to continuing your exercises when you start to make excuses
  • How to find the why for your exercises
  • How to turn actions into habits
  • How intermediate goals can help you reach your ultimate goals
  • And more!

Connect with Susan Ceklosky:

Connect with Michael Labos:

About our Guest:

Susan Ceklosky is a licensed sports nutritionist, weight loss coach, marathon runner, figure competitor, speaker, motivator, author, and mother to two amazing boys. She helps her clients boost their metabolism, lose weight, and “feel like a million bucks.”

Susan holds a degree in Nutrition and Kinesiology from Penn State University, along with a certificate in Weight Management from the Cleveland Clinic. She is a Licensed Sports Nutritionist with the National Academy of Sports Nutrition. She was named the 2016 “Woman of the Year” by the Pittsburgh-based Women’s Business Network, which has 22 chapters in the Pittsburgh area and over 300 members.

 

 

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FEATURE

5. The Truth About Wanting To Keep Up With The Joneses with Pete Piotrowski

Financial Planning, Money Advisor, Retirement, Risk Management, Uncategorized, Wealth, , , , , , , , ,

Since its first appearance in 1913, the concept of the Joneses has become more prevalent with the rise of social media.

If you need a refresher, this alludes to wanting to own the same expensive objects and do the same things as your friends do and own.

How to beat the Joneses?

Michael Labos and Piotrowski Insurance Agency’s Pete Piotrowski, tell you in this week’s episode.

They discuss the concept of keeping up with the Joneses and how the small comic from 1913 has wound its way within current society. Plus, drawing from his own experience, Pete reveals how he purchased and sold a car due to budgeting and life transitions.

Pete discusses:

  • Ways keeping up with the Joneses impacts Gen Xers 
  • How media has influenced our perception of happiness
  • Tips to overcome and stop keeping up with the Joneses
  • What was it like to buy and sell a car he didn’t need
  • And more!

Connect with Pete Piotrowski:

Connect with Michael Labos:

About our Guest:

As a Financial Services Professional for 20 years, a small business owner for 11 years, a husband for 17 years, and a father for 15 years, Pete has the experience to help provide you, your family, or your business with unmatched insurance coverage for all of the things that matter to you. From your car insurance to homeowners, renters, boat, and business insurance, as well as your life insurance and income replacement plans, Pete and his team at Piotrowski Insurance Agency Inc are here to guide you.

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