When love finds you later in life, what happens to your legacy?

With over 1,300 stepfamilies forming every day, later-in-life relationships are more common than ever, but so are the financial complexities that come with them. 

Whether you’re remarrying, cohabiting, or just exploring the next chapter, decisions around Social Security, estate planning, asset titling, and medical directives can be emotionally and financially loaded.

We’re laying out what you need to think through before you say “I do” (or move in). Because when assets, families, and emotions all intersect, proactive planning is what brings peace of mind.

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Planning for the future isn’t just about what you leave behind; it’s also about how you live today. 

Yet far too many retirees assume that a simple will is enough to protect their assets, their wishes, and their loved ones. In reality, effective estate planning involves proactive decisions, coordinated professionals, and a clear vision for both your life and your legacy.

In this episode of Retirement Unlocked, Larry Heller speaks with elder law attorney Wendy Goidel to surface overlooked strategies that can help families navigate the real-life complexity of aging, incapacity, and generational wealth transfer, from durable powers of attorney to personal care instructions and legacy letters.

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About Our Guest:

Wendy K. Goidel, the founding and managing member of Goidel Law Group PLLC, dedicates her practice to estate planning, elder law, and estate and trust administration.  Wendy helps individuals of all ages and stages to achieve their estate planning goals while protecting themselves, their loved ones, and their hard-earned assets.  She provides services in a compassionate and caring manner while respecting the dignity and promoting the independence of her clients. Recognizing that conversations about disability and death are difficult and emotional, Wendy is committed to diffusing tension and eliminating stress.   She earns her clients’ respect and confidence and creates lasting relationships with them and their family members so that their planning will work for them through all phases of their lives.

An out-of-the-box thinker, Wendy developed and implemented Concierge Care Coordination®, a holistic practice model which seamlessly integrates geriatric social work with legal planning.

Wendy created fellowship programs with two New York universities designed to encourage social work students to enter the field of gerontology and to promote collaboration between law and social work students.  She gives back to the community and sponsors multiple programs for individuals with cognitive impairment and their care partners. Wendy has been honored for her commitment and contributions to several adult day programs on Long Island and was named as one of the Top 50 Women in Business by the Long Island Business News.  For a decade, Wendy served on the Executive Board of Make-A-Wish, Suffolk County, NY.  She is a graduate of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and Syracuse University.

Roth conversions may be one of the most overlooked tax planning opportunities in retirement, and the cost of waiting could be staggering. 

With recent legislative changes, longer life expectancies, and compressed inheritance timelines for your heirs, it’s never been more important to get this right.

In this episode of Retirement Unlocked, Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, explains how to spot your best conversion window, why many people miss it, and the strategic tools that can make the move pay off. He also reveals how proactive planning can help reduce Medicare surcharges, reduce the tax burden passed on to your family, and give you far more flexibility in retirement.

If you’re between the ages of 60 and 75, or experiencing a few low-income years before required minimum distributions (RMDs) begin, you could be in a prime window to convert pre-tax retirement savings into tax-free Roth dollars, without triggering a future tax time bomb.

Beyond personal savings, this strategy can also help protect the next generation from inheriting a massive tax liability. But timing, income coordination, and strategic use of tools like Social Security deferral and partial conversions all play a role in whether a Roth move will actually benefit you.

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You’ve built a business with care, grit, and vision. But what happens when the finish line is in sight and you realize you’re not ready to cross it? 

For business owners nearing retirement, the decision to sell is about far more than spreadsheets and valuations. It’s personal. It’s strategic. And it can be overwhelming.

In this episode of Retirement Unlocked, Larry Heller sits down with Paul Cronin, a seasoned entrepreneur and M&A advisor with Touchstone Advisors, to walk through how and when to start planning for your exit, on your terms.

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About Our Guest:

Paul Cronin has over 30 years of professional experience in sales, management, consulting, and entrepreneurship. He has owned three businesses, including a data analytics business, a golf training business, and an exit planning/consulting business. He has been part of the M&A world since 2009, initially in the exit planning field before moving to transactional work at several firms. Paul joined the M&A practice at Touchstone Advisors in 2025

Paul’s background includes being part of the team that grew Eden Toys, a small NY-based toy manufacturer, into a $100 million company serving thousands of US retailers, including TJX, Macy’s, and Nordstrom. Paul led a team of 16 salespeople (both field reps and inside sales reps,) generating $20 million/year and serving 6,000 customers.

As a speaker, Paul has presented at law firms, CPA societies, professional associations, and colleges such as Harvard Business School, Northeastern University, Babson College, Bentley University, Wheaton College (MA), Emerson College, Wellesley College, and Salem State University (MA).

Paul has a Bachelor of Science from the D’Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University in Boston. Paul is an avid golfer, splits his time between Boston and Cape Cod, and is married with two adult daughters.

What seems like a small business decision, choosing between a SIMPLE IRA and a 401(k), can quietly shape everything from your personal retirement strategy to your firm’s employee retention. 

The truth? It’s not just about cost. It’s about control, flexibility, and future-proofing your business and your finances.

Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur or managing a team, your retirement plan structure says a lot about your growth mindset.

In this episode of Retirement Unlocked, Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, explores the practical trade-offs business owners face when deciding how much control they want, how much complexity they can handle, and how much opportunity they may be unknowingly leaving on the table.

Here’s what you can expect from this release:

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How can you give more to the causes you care about while keeping more of your hard-earned money?

Charitable giving isn’t just a personal act of generosity; it’s also a strategic financial opportunity.

In this episode of Retirement Unlocked, Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, sits down with philanthropy professional Joshua Chadajo, CEO of JEC Philanthropy, to explore how intentional giving strategies can help you reduce your tax burden, maximize your impact, and build a legacy that reflects your values. Joshua shares how tools like donor-advised funds, qualified charitable distributions, and bunching donations can make your giving both intentional and tax-efficient.

Key insights include:

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About Our Guest:

Joshua E. Chadajo is the founder and CEO of JEC Philanthropy. His fundraising leadership has resulted in more than $100 million of charitable donations. What he enjoyed most during his thousands upon thousands of conversations with and about donors is uncovering what motivates each individual to give charity, clarifying what each person hopes to accomplish with their support, and determining how best to achieve these goals. Joshua formed JEC Philanthropy to share his passion for charitable giving with individuals and families who can benefit from his wealth of experience. 

Joshua was the longest-tenured Executive Director, North America at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem. He was the first alumnus to hold the position, which he did for more than 18 years. Joshua earned a reputation for getting things done and achieving a high level of excellence, all while exhibiting a persistent positive attitude, a strong sense of humor and a distinct lack of jargon. 

Joshua spent the last 25 years working at three different nonprofit organizations, holding executive positions in two of them, and serving on multiple nonprofit boards. He has extensive experience in fundraising, strategy, finance, operations, communication and relationship-building. 

Joshua earned an MBA at the Yale School of Management, which he attended as a Wexner Graduate Fellow. After graduation, he spent a year learning at the Pardes Institute. A native of Boston, MA, Joshua currently lives in Miami Beach, FL with his family. He still roots, however, for the correct sports teams.

Your 401(k) could be your largest retirement asset, but are you making the most of it?

In this episode of Retirement Unlocked, Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, shares the essential steps to take with your 401(k) as you approach retirement. From rollover decisions and Roth conversions to income generation and estate planning, Larry covers the strategies that can help you avoid costly mistakes and keep more of what you’ve earned.

Key Topics Include:

Whether you’re retiring soon or planning ahead, this episode is your guide to making smart 401(k) decisions so you can step into retirement with confidence.

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Think you’ve done everything right for retirement? One overlooked tax detail could cost you thousands.

In this episode of Retirement Unlocked, Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, welcomes Rob Premselaar, CPA and founder of Premselaar CPA LLC, to shed light on the hidden tax pitfalls that can derail even the most carefully crafted retirement plans.

They explore the real impact of Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), the surprise taxation of Social Security benefits, and the often-misunderstood IRMAA Medicare surcharge. Rob also shares proactive strategies for minimizing taxes in retirement, including qualified charitable distributions (QCDs), the pros and cons of Roth conversions, and key planning opportunities for business owners approaching or entering retirement.

Discussions in this release include:

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About Our Guest:

Rob is the Owner of Premselaar CPA LLC, managing a portfolio of small-to-medium sized businesses and high-net-worth individuals, providing tax planning, tax strategy, tax filing, and CFO business services. Premselaar CPA LLC provides outstanding service to its clients because of its dedication to the three underlying principles of quality, professionalism, and responsiveness.

Are you holding too much, or too little cash in retirement? 

Finding the right amount of cash to keep on hand is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when creating a retirement income strategy. The wrong decision could lead to stress, missed growth opportunities, or even long-term financial instability.

In this episode of Retirement Unlocked, Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, breaks down how much cash retirees should have in their portfolio, and why it matters more than you might think. He introduces his “retirement cash reserve strategy,” designed to help you generate steady income while protecting against market volatility.

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Outsourcing your bookkeeping isn’t just a cost-saving move; it could be the smartest strategic decision your business makes this year.

In this episode, Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, sits down with Cheri Giglia, Owner and Managing Director of Supporting Strategies on Long Island, to explore why more small businesses are turning to virtual bookkeeping for efficiency, clarity, and peace of mind.

Cheri shares how outsourced financial support can streamline operations, enhance internal controls, and deliver timely insights that empower business owners to make better decisions, whether they’re planning for growth, managing cash flow, or preparing for an audit. With real client stories and tech-forward best practices, this episode is packed with value for any business owner looking to scale smarter.

What to expect from this episode:

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About Our Guest:

Accounting and bookkeeping are services that many businesses on Long Island need to manage more effectively. Business owners struggle to find professionals who they trust to manage these important aspects of their operations. This is where Cheri Giglia and her company, Supporting Strategies on Long Island, come in. Her professional team removes owners’ headaches and improves efficiencies.

As an accountant and former Financial Director for a public company, Cheri has expertise working in many different industries. She understands the pressure and stress that business owners face when it comes to gaining greater financial control of their operations. She uses her more than two decades of experience in accounting and financial management to create strategies to improve efficiencies and reduce costs.

Cheri’s team of skilled accounting professionals accomplishes this by leveraging technology, allowing clients to easily outsource accounts payable management, billing/accounts receivables, financial/management reporting, HR and payroll support, bookkeeping and monthly financial statements/reports, and controller services. Outsourcing these services allows businesses to focus on growth and other profit-making activities. The way Cheri’s team operates permits them to offer competitively priced professional services and attention that competitors are unable to offer.

Cheri recognizes that there are many choices when it comes to selecting a professional or firm to provide accounting, bookkeeping, and controller services. Business owners and managers choose to work with her because of her experience, personal commitment, and her ability to rapidly provide the financial information they need to make critical business decisions.