Do you know the smartest way to manage your withdrawals in retirement?

In this episode of the Life Unlimited podcast, host Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, shares expert strategies for managing retirement withdrawals to ensure financial stability and tax efficiency. 

Larry covers essential steps for building a smart distribution plan, emphasizing pre-retirement planning and proactive wealth management. The episode explores the benefits of Roth conversions, the impact of the Secure 2.0 Act, and critical topics such as the widow penalty, annuities, and estate planning, all supported by real client insights.

Whether you’re approaching retirement or already retired, this episode offers practical tips to help you minimize taxes, optimize withdrawals, and protect your wealth and legacy. Don’t miss this valuable guide to mastering your retirement finances!

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The legal industry is evolving, and law firms are facing unprecedented challenges in recruiting and retaining top talent. In this episode of Life Unlimited, Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, sits down with Shari Davidson, founder and president of On Balance Search Consultants, to explore the shifting dynamics of legal recruiting and career transitions.

Shari brings over two decades of experience in legal search consulting, offering valuable insights into pressing issues like the ongoing talent shortage, succession planning, and the challenges smaller firms face in staying competitive.

Discover how clear communication, firm culture, and leadership impact career success, and gain actionable tips on navigating mergers, acquisitions, and career transitions in today’s legal landscape.

If you’re a law firm leader or a legal professional seeking to future-proof your career, this episode is packed with must-hear advice to help you thrive in a rapidly changing industry.

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About Our Guest:

Shari Davidson is the founder of On Balance Search Consultants LLC & On-Balance Life Centers.

On Balance Search Consultants is a boutique search firm that specializes in finding top talent in the legal community. Shari has placed lateral partner attorneys, as well as group acquisitions and law firm mergers, and has assisted her clients in recruiting lateral associates, paralegals, and legal secretarial positions.

How well do you truly know your tax bracket? Did you know that not knowing enough could cost you thousands?

Get ready to learn some critical financial planning mistakes that might secretly derail your financial security.

This week on the Life Unlimited podcast, Larry Heller identifies the seven most common financial mistakes people make and how to avoid them—such as lacking knowledge about their tax bracket and neglecting estate planning updates. 

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Actionable Takeaway: Through practical examples and insightful advice, Larry highlights the importance of staying informed and proactive with your finances. 

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Estate planning goes beyond documents—it’s about protecting loved ones, achieving financial independence, and aligning plans with long-term goals.

In this episode of the Life Unlimited podcast, host Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, sits down with Allison Dolzani, estate planning attorney and partner at Julie Kessler, LLP, to explore strategies tailored to women navigating major life transitions like divorce, widowhood, or retirement.

They discuss critical topics, including naming guardians for minor children, safeguarding inherited assets, and maintaining up-to-date estate plans. Allison also emphasizes the importance of foundational documents like healthcare proxies, powers of attorney, and trusts in creating a solid plan.

With actionable insights on avoiding costly mistakes and tailoring plans to personal and family goals, Allison provides a clear roadmap for building an estate plan that safeguards your future and protects what matters most.

Key Points Covered:

Actionable Takeaway: Estate planning is vital to stabilizing your family’s future and building financial independence. Start today by consulting an estate planning professional to create a plan tailored to your unique needs.

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About Our Guest:

Allison Dolzani specializes in estate planning, estate administration, and Surrogate’s Court practice. Allison represents domestic and international individuals and multigenerational families in sophisticated estate planning, emphasizing minimizing the impact of gift, estate, generation-skipping transfer, and income taxes.

Allison joined the firm in September 2018. Before joining Julie Kessler LLP, Allison was an associate at a New York City law firm focused on estate administration and litigation.

Allison earned her law degree from Touro Law School. While in law school, Allison served as Research Editor of Touro Law Review and authored Intellectual Property and Constitutional Law articles.  Allison graduated magna cum laude from Western New England University with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy.

Choosing the right business structure isn’t just about compliance – it’s about maximizing tax efficiency and aligning with your long-term goals.

Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, and William Huether, CPA, CGMA, MBA, discuss how S-Corporations can help business owners save on taxes, streamline compliance, and drive growth. They compare S-Corps to C-Corps, LLCs, and partnerships, offering insights on tax benefits, drawbacks, and strategies to align business structures with long-term goals. 

With practical advice on avoiding double taxation and leveraging pass-through entity tax (PTET) benefits, William provides a roadmap for optimizing your business structure.

Key Points Covered:

Actionable Takeaway: The right business structure could be the key to significant tax savings and long-term financial success. Consult a CPA or tax professional to evaluate your options and create a tax plan tailored to your goals.

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About Our Guest:

William Huether is a Certified Public Accountant with over eleven years of experience with clients in a broad range of industries, including the retail, wholesale, distribution, restaurant/hospitality, not-for-profit, solar, investment company, manufacturing, and real estate industries.  William holds the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation from the AICPA and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.

William works in Sheehan’s assurance practice and provides auditing, accounting, and consulting services to clients in various industries in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and International Financial Reporting Standards.  William also provides a variety of tax planning, compliance, and consulting services to individuals, corporations, flow-through entities, and trusts. He is an active member of the firm’s recruiting committee, a mentor in the firm’s career advisor program, and serves on the firm’s Quality Control Committee.

Retirement isn’t just about accumulating wealth – it’s about making sure it lasts. 

In this episode, Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, explores the essential elements of a well-rounded distribution strategy for retirement, including guiding you through five key areas every retiree should prioritize: income vs. total return, tax management, investment allocation, longevity, and estate planning.

Larry dives deep into the shift from accumulation to distribution, revealing strategies to help retirees sustain income, reduce taxes, and cover health expenses—all while preparing a meaningful legacy. With a focus on turning retirement into a financially secure and fulfilling stage of life, this episode provides actionable advice on balancing your immediate needs with a long-term vision.

Whether you’re entering retirement or aiming to enhance your financial strategy, this episode will equip you with the tools and mindset to enjoy a confident and comfortable retirement.

Key Points Covered:

Actionable Takeaway: Review your retirement plan to ensure it supports your lifestyle, reduces tax impacts, and aligns with your legacy goals. Consult a financial planner to tailor it to your unique needs for a fulfilling retirement.

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Handshake deals might seem convenient, but they could put your business at serious risk. Discover how to protect your company from these hidden dangers and build a reliable foundation.

Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, is joined by Rachel Partain, a leading tax attorney and partner at Forchelli Law, to break down the risks of running a business without formal agreements. 

Whether you’re launching a startup, managing growth, or exploring new partnerships, Rachel provides actionable insights to help you understand the risks of inadequate documentation and strengthen your business with essential agreements and expert legal guidance.

Key Points Covered:

Actionable Takeaway: Assess your current business agreements today and consult a professional to protect yourself against potential financial and legal challenges.

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Interest rates may be falling, but your financial strategy doesn’t have to follow. Learn how to stay ahead in today’s ever-changing financial landscape.

Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, breaks down how these shifting rates impact everything from mortgages to retirement plans. Whether you’re buying a home, optimizing investments, or planning for your financial future, Larry offers actionable insights to help you navigate today’s economic landscape. Covering the rise and fall of interest rates and their effects on borrowing, saving, and investing, he provides strategies for adapting your financial plan across asset classes to protect your wealth.

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High-conflict divorces are some of the most emotionally draining and complex experiences a family can face, especially when children with special needs are involved. In this episode of Life Unlimited, host Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, sits down with Dr. Susan K. Bernstein, a certified divorce coach specializing in high-conflict cases, to explore how divorce coaching can help navigate this emotionally charged process.

Dr. Bernstein shares practical strategies to save time, reduce costs, and help families manage the legal and emotional hurdles of divorce. From uncovering hidden assets to ensuring proper care for special needs children, her advice offers a roadmap for those seeking a more manageable, less overwhelming approach to divorce.

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About Our Guest:

Dr Bernstein is a Certified Divorce Coach and Certified High Conflict Divorce Coach with a speciality in Post Divorce Transition and  Recovery and will help you go through the changes of divorce with ease.  She helps clients achieve their goals and get to where they want to be.  Susan helps many clients who want to get out of toxic relationships get what they need and deserve related to their children and finances. Susan is a mom, best selling author, leader for Vesta Divorce and the National Association of Divorce Professionals (NADP) as well as The Divorce Coalition. She teaches a mastermind class and coaches coaches! She is also a Certified Divorce Specialist and Pre Mediation Divorce coach. Prior to becoming a Certified Divorce Coach Susan earned her doctorate in Education Leadership and was a school teacher and administrator. Her studies and focus have always been on what is best for the children.  Susan’s promise to you is that you will end each session with action steps to get you closer to achieving your goals and the life you want! Susan is the coach that attorneys hire for their own divorce! 

Could these six retirement mistakes jeopardize a successful retirement? What steps can you take to avoid them?

In this eye-opening episode of Life Unlimited, host Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, reveals six critical retirement mistakes that could threaten your financial security when it comes to planning for your retirement. These pitfalls are unfortunately common, but there are steps you can take to better prepare for these financial curveballs. 

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