Fresh Perspective Planning

Hosts: Michael Mezheritskiy & Rich LoPresti

In this must-listen episode, Michael and Rich from Milestone Asset Management Group dive deep into Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) and uncover strategies to minimize taxes in retirement. 🚨

Topics covered include:
✅ Understanding RMDs and recent age requirement changes
✅ The end of the "stretch IRA" and what it means for your beneficiaries
✅ The domino effect of RMDs on Social Security, Medicare premiums, and taxes 📈
✅ Powerful tax-saving strategies like Roth conversions 💡
✅ Why proactive tax planning is essential for retirees

Get actionable advice to help you keep more money in your pocket and out of Uncle Sam's! 🇺🇸💰

Have questions? Get in touch!
📧 Email: [email protected]
🌐 Web: milestoneamg.com
📞 Office: (860) 259-4800

Episode Title: Volatility, Roth Conversions & Retirement Guardrails – What You Can Do Today

Hosts:
Michael Mezheritskiy, President of Milestone Asset Management Group
Rich LoPresti, Financial Advisor, – Milford Office

In this episode, Michael and Rich tackle one of the most pressing concerns for retirees and pre-retirees in 2025 — market volatility. They walk through how to plan effectively, stay calm, and make smart decisions in uncertain times.

Key Topics Covered:

• 📉 Market Volatility in 2025 — why it feels worse than it is, and how to stay focused.

• 🧱 The Bucket Strategy — how to create income stability and protect yourself from market swings.

• 📊 Sequence of Returns Risk — why early market losses in retirement matter more than you think.

• 💸 Tax-Loss Harvesting — a proactive strategy to turn losses into long-term tax advantages.

• 🔁 Roth Conversions — how to take advantage of market downturns to build tax-free wealth.

• 🚧 Guardrails for Retirement — how Milestone clients know when (or if) to adjust spending.

Whether you're already retired or on the cusp of retirement, this episode is packed with practical insights that will help you make smarter financial decisions during turbulent times.

Have questions or want to explore if these strategies apply to your own plan? We’re here to help.

📍 Milestone Asset Management Group
🌐 milestoneamg.com
📧 [email protected]
📞 860-259-4800

We offer complimentary conversations for those nearing or in retirement. As a fee-only fiduciary firm, we don’t sell products — we provide objective advice tailored to your goals.

🎯 Episode Overview:📞 Contact the Milestone Team

📢Episode Summary:
Welcome back to theFresh Perspective Podcast! After a brief hiatus, we’re excited to bring you insightful discussions on retirement planning, investment strategies, and tax-efficient financial decisions.

In this episode,Michael Mezheritskiy (President of Milestone Asset Management Group) andRich LoPresti (Certified Financial Planner) dive into two essential investment concepts:Asset Allocation and Asset Location—and why both are critical for a secure and tax-efficient retirement.

✅Key Takeaways from This Episode:

• Asset Allocation vs. Asset Location: What’s the difference, and why does it matter?
• How asset allocation balances risk and return as you transition from accumulation to retirement
• Why asset location can help minimize taxes and maximize after-tax returns
• The importance of the sequence of returns risk and how to protect your portfolio from market downturns
• The bucket strategy: A unique approach to asset allocation based on cash flow needs
• The role of tax-advantaged accounts (Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Brokerage) and how to optimize them
• Common mistakes investors make with mutual funds, bonds, and target-date funds

💡Did you know?
Vanguard’s research suggests thatproper asset location can add up to 0.75% in after-tax return per year, significantly improving long-term wealth accumulation.

Whether you’re nearing retirement or just getting started, this episode provides actionable insights to help you build asmarter, tax-optimized portfolio.

🎧Listen Now on:
📌Apple Podcasts |Spotify

🔗Resources & Contact:
📍Website:milestoneamg.com
📞Call Our Office: 860-259-4800

If you have questions or want to discuss your retirement strategy, reach out—we’re here to help!

📩Subscribe & Stay Connected
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In today's episode, Michael and Rich discuss a very unique topic of After Tax contributions in your 401k plan. They go over how to identify if you have after-tax money in your 401k plan as well as what your options are when you retire. They also go over some very specific tax planning strategies that can be implemented only if you have after-tax money in your 401k plan. So if you have 401k plan with after-tax money in it, be sure to listen to this episode by Michael and Rich 

In today's episode, Michael and Rich cover the fascinating topic of flat fee planning. What does it mean?

Well, many clients, when they engage with a fiduciary planning firm like Milestone Asset Management Group, are looking for comprehensive planning by integrating Tax Planning, Investment Management, Tax Optimized Distribution Strategy, Estate Planning, and developing a comprehensive, actionable plan.

Well, many Fee-only firms do that, but then they ask you to move your money to them, and they will charge you a fee called Asset Under Management (AUM) to work with them. This is a great model and works really well unless you are someone who wants to manage your money yourself. Well, now your list of options is significantly lower because most firms need to charge you an AUM fee. Well, we have seen an influx of new clients that are looking on ongoing planning engagement only. IF this is you - this episode is for you. In this episode, Mike and Rich go over your options and how you can find and work with a Flat Fee advisor like Milestone Asset Management Group.

So you are lucky enough to have a pension, great now what? What is the best way for you to collect? Do you collect a monthly pension or take a lump sum? What is the best option for you? When you are faced with a decision on what do you with your pension, you only get to make that decision once. It is irreversible. In this episode, Mike and Rich discuss different ways some one can go about collecting their options, the pros and cons of one option over the other, and how to determine best which option is in your and your family's best interest. This episode follows their recent article on pension maximization strategies which you can read by clicking HERE. 

Choosing the right financial planner is one of the most important decisions you can make for your family’s financial future, but how do you know if the planner you are talking to is required to act in your best interest? How do you know if their expertise align with your needs? Is he/she a Fiduciary or will they try to sell you a product that might benefit them over you? Does the planner you are interviewing have regulatory disclosures, had complaints filed against him/her, has been in front of the arbitration committee, had been fined by SEC or FINRA? How do you check? In this episode, Mike and Rich go over the most important questions to ask when interviewing a financial planner, as well as what to look for to make sure you are working with the right individual for you.

Resources:

After months of anticipation, the Democrats’ tax plan has arrived. The proposed legislation, the “American Families Plan,” is very different than what was expected. Among other measures, the new law would increase the top ordinary income tax bracket from 37% to 39.6% and impose an additional 3% ‘surtax’ on income above $5M. In addition, long-term capital gains rates would rise to 25% and step-up in basis will remain. In addition to that, the legislation proposes several new crackdowns, including new restrictions on “backdoor” and "Mega backdoor Roth IRAs and Roth Conversions. During this episode listen to Mike and Rich go over and discuss the proposed changes and what it could mean to you if you are close to retirement or retiring. 

In this episode, Mike & Rich are answering questions about Roth Conversion from listeners and clients. This is Part 1, with Part 2 coming soon. We have many more questions to get to, and we will be releasing our Part 2 Roth Conversion Q&A soon 

Below is a list of questions that Mike & Rich are tackling in this episode: 

What to consider during Roth Conversion in retirement?

If you have a question you'd like us to answer, please email it to us at [email protected] or from our website milestoneamg.com 

So you are of an age when you can start claiming social security, but should you? What is the best strategy for you? Does it make sense to delay and do some tax planning so that less of your social security is taxable to you in the future? In this podcast, Michael & Rich go over a few claiming and tax planning strategies that could be helpful when deciding on optimal social security claiming strategy.