Danielle Roberts

– The Confident Retirement Podcast with Kris Flammang

Episode 047 Solving the "Medicare wordle" in one episode? Done! Featuring Danielle Roberts, Founding Partner, Boomer Benefits 

Danielle Roberts always knew she wanted to work with the elderly, but she didn’t know how. Now she serves that group exclusively. It started when her insurance clients kept asking if she could help their parents with the Medicare maze of options and complexities.

Danielle is a founding partner at Boomer Benefits, a national insurance agency specializing in Medicare since 2005. She is also the author of the best-selling book 10 Costly Medicare Mistakes You Can’t Afford to Make and is often a featured guest for CNBC, FOX, Yahoo Finance, Kiplinger, and MarketWatch.

Danielle also serves on the NAHU Medicare Advisory Group, where she advocates for Medicare beneficiaries at a national level to government organizations, including CMS. 

Highlights of our conversation include:

The challenge of working in the insurance industry and lessons learned.

The joy of handholding clients through the Medicare journey.

Research Medicare at least six months before you turn 65 when enrollment is mandatory.

Understand Election Periods when you can or can’t get insurance.

What to know about the “supplementals.”

Catastrophic limits set by Medicare each year.

Understanding the ACA, Affordable Care Act, and the health insurance exchange.

Enjoy the show!

Connect with Danielle:

Website: https://boomerbenefits.com/

Connect with Kris:

Website: https://www.lpfadvisors.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristopher-flammang-lpfadv/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kflammang?

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Marci Walker

– The Confident Retirement Podcast with Kris Flammang

Episode 046 A calm voice in the face of an unpredictable mortgage sky with Marci Walker, a Co-Founder, Blue Skye Lending 

Marci Walker changed her career from auto finance to joining the mortgage industry. She enjoyed the career switch and with colleagues, co-founded Blue Skye Lending almost 20 years ago.

Marci and her partners have a firm belief that if they put clients first, the business will take care of itself. She loves assisting first-time homebuyers achieve their goals of homeownership and saving money for someone refinancing their home.

There’s so much to learn from our conversation. Highlights include:

The misconception of thinking all loan officers work in the same way.

Why one should avoid online lenders.

The advantages of working with a lending team.

The complications of underwriting and what it means.

The difficulties of getting a loan when self-employed.

How a down payment should be calculated or considered.

Refinancing considerations.

Enjoy the show!

Connect with Marci:

Website: https://www.blueskyeloans.com/marci-walker/

Connect with Kris:

Website: https://www.lpfadvisors.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristopher-flammang-lpfadv/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kflammang?

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Marie Torossian

– The Confident Retirement Podcast with Kris Flammang

Episode 045 A CPA Turning the Industry on its Head - Really! with Marie Torossian, CPA

Marie Torossian, a Chartered Global Management Accountant, auditor, CFO, and author, has the passion to help clients succeed in their business, increase their business value, and live the life they want. She firmly believes in living in God’s grace to help those in need and to make a difference in people’s lives.

She has authored two books, A Business Owner’s Guide to Operational Accounting and The Complete Guide to Business Growth. She actively promotes accounting education through her social media channels and her weekly live show, Coffee Time with Marie Torossian CPA.

Marie is a progressive accountant who builds her practice in an advisory model and uses the value-pricing model for her services. She also actively creates CPE classes for the FICPA North Dade/South Broward chapter.

Highlights of our conversation include:

In the private sector, there’s an opportunity to be involved in every part of the business.

62 percent of all businesses fail in the first two years.

The importance of being a lifelong learner.

Scaling up a business and finding the extra value adds.

The challenge of finding the clients that are a right fit to work with.

The business model of how she works and educating clients on how CPAs work.

Understanding the options for retirement investments.

Take Marie up on her offer for a free strategy session and enjoy the show!

Connect with Marie:

Website: https://www.marietorossiancpa.com/

LinkedIn: https://www. linkedin.com/in/marietorossiancpacgma 

Connect with Kris:

Website: https://www.lpfadvisors.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristopher-flammang-lpfadv/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kflammang?

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Mark Fontanella

– The Confident Retirement Podcast with Kris Flammang

Episode 044 Protection planning. Lead with a WHY

with Mark Fontanella, Health Insurance Professional, Hanson and Ryan

Mark Fontanella is a health insurance professional at Hanson and Ryan, a family-owned insurance company operating for over 140 years. Based in New Jersey, the company works to identify and simplify the insurance process for individuals and businesses.

Mark is a firm believer in honing his craft every day and enjoys the personal satisfaction he gets when he can present clients with options to best suit their needs.

Our conversation covers several issues and challenges that a client needs to learn and think about when getting proper coverage for their health and personal needs. 

We discuss:

Explanations of the term open enrollment.

What happens when people hear the Joe Namath donut hole commercial?

The Medicare scam cards.

A case study of an employer giving improper Medicare information.

The misconceptions of life insurance.

Understanding the various types of personal insurance.

The future of private health insurance.

Enjoy the show!

Connect with Mark:

Website: https://www.hansonryan.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-fontanella-54066483/

Connect with Kris:

Website: https://www.lpfadvisors.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristopher-flammang-lpfadv/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kflammang?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brandon Hall

– The Confident Retirement Podcast with Kris Flammang

Episode 043 Helping clients diversify self-directed IRA investments with Brandon Hall, President Midland IRA

Brandon Hall started at Midland Trust 19 years ago with the purpose of starting an IRA side of the accounting business. Today, Brandon is the President and COO of the company that only operates on IRAs and 1031s as the firm’s primary practice.

Brandon knows every aspect of IRAs, helping clients diversify investments portfolios with self-direction on alternative assets. Brandon has a Certified IRA Service Provider designation, and has degrees from the University of Alabama, Florida Gulf Coast University and an Executive Leadership Certificate from Cornell University. 

Brandon generously shares his wealth of knowledge to explain the complex world of IRAs. Highlights include:

The responsibilities of a custodian.

The four types of IRAs.

An explanation of what is an alternative asset.

Midland does not work as a fiduciary or advisor.

What to know if you have a self-directed IRA that holds alternative assets.

The 1031 section of the tax code explained and misconceptions.

The company’s goals for scalable growth and continuing great customer service.

Enjoy the show!

Connect with Brandon:

Website: https://www.midlandtrust.com/

Connect with Kris:

Website: https://www.lpfadvisors.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristopher-flammang-lpfadv/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kflammang?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alisa Heedy

– The Confident Retirement Podcast with Kris Flammang

Episode 042 Finding A Calling to Help Others Leave their Legacy with Alisa Heedy

Alisa Heedy is a Trusts and Estates Attorney at Williams Parker in Sarasota, Florida. After graduating from the University of Florida, she studied law at Stetson University. She also has a LL.M degree in Taxation from the University of Florida, which she believes gives her the advantage of knowing how to prepare and work with tax preparation in the realm of estate planning. 

Alisa’s entry into this area was partially influenced by her own experience of learning about estates when her grandfather passed away. 

Highlights of our conversation include:

The mistake of having more than one person acting as executor.

The perfect trustee or representative just needs to know where to get help.

The challenge of balancing the psychology of the law and family dynamics.

Good lawyers are advisors who guide clients away from litigious viewpoints.

The importance of having empathy for the family after a loved one passes away.

The core documents every family should have.

Enjoy the show!

Connect with Alisa:

Website: https://www.williamsparker.com/attorneys/alisa-m-heedy/

Connect with Kris:

Website: https://www.lpfadvisors.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristopher-flammang-lpfadv/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kflammang?

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David Silver

– The Confident Retirement Podcast with Kris Flammang

Episode 041 Medicare Straight Talk from Medicare Dave with David Silver

Dave Silver had invested in real estate and when the markets crashed, he looked for a new career. His strength in sales comes from being knowledgeable in the product he represents, Medicare Insurance Plan options. Dave is a licensed insurance agent specializing in Medicare for almost 10 years. 

In our conversation, we discuss all things Medicare from Parts A and B, Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage and Part D Drug plans. This is an episode you’ll want to listen to more than once for yourself or for helping your parents. 

Highlights from our conversation include:

The challenge of getting the correct, honest information from clients.

The misinformation clients received about Medicare because it doesn’t apply to their individual situation.

Explaining Medicare, parts A and B.

The complications of Medicare part B if still employed.

Medicare Supplement Plans from A through N.

How people are penalized when not applying in the correct time and age periods.

Medicare Advantage Plans are not Supplement Plans.

How Plans and drug benefits vary from State to State.

Enjoy the show!

Connect with David:

Website: https://www.davesilverinsurance.com/

Connect with Kris:

Website: https://www.lpfadvisors.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristopher-flammang-lpfadv/

Twitter: @kflammang

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Niuris Bezanilla

– The Confident Retirement Podcast with Kris Flammang

Episode 040 Not all Probates are Equal with Niuris Bezanilla, Managing Attorney, EPDG

Niuris Bezanilla, managing attorney of the Trust and Estates department, EPDG, represents domestic and international individuals in the practice areas of Trusts and Estates, with a focus on establishing domestic estate plans, probates, and guardianships.

During law school at Florida International University College of Law, Niuris clerked with the Administrative Judge for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit’s Probate Division, which gave her first-hand experience and behind-the-scenes knowledge of the probate process. Niuris was also the President of the Negotiation and Mediation Team and was a recipient of the Dean’s Scholarship.

Highlights of our conversation include:

Teaching clients how probate laws vary from state to state.

Helping clients to understand how probate laws work in international cases.

Setting up clients from countries including Columbia or Venezuela and helping to plan for the sticker shock of estate tax.

Dealing with the slow timeframes of the IRS and other states.

The advantage of using Trusts.

Enjoy the show!

Connect with Niuris:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/epgd-attorneys-at-law-p-a-/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EPGD-Trusts-Estates-109553091131168/

Connect with Kris:

Website: https://www.lpfadvisors.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristopher-flammang-lpfadv/

Twitter: @kflammang

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Bette Hochberger

– The Confident Retirement Podcast with Kris Flammang

Episode 039 Doctors, Lawyers and Crypto... OH MY! Featuring Bette Hochberger

Bette Hochberger, CPA, CGMA runs a boutique firm offering accounting services, business consulting, and financial advice to forward-thinking professionals and businesses, including doctors and lawyers. Bette focuses on real estate investment owners, companies with foreign investors and Americans with overseas business interests.

With experience in the startup worlds of Miami and Boston, she later developed into the world of venture capital-backed startups. Bette runs her firm remotely and has mastered the art of cloud accounting. Given her engineering background, she also understands the process of back-end technology for small business.

Bette is also an expert on helping clients entering the world of cryptocurrency.

In our conversation, Bette shares case studies of how she helps clients and what to know about taxes and cryptocurrency.

Highlights include: 

Keep track of every crypto transaction because the IRS is watching.

The mistake of not marketing the company earlier.

Lawyers can’t do year end accounting from credit card statements alone.

A case study of saving a client from exorbitant taxes on a property sale.

Being a CPA in the wild west of uncharted, crypto currency.

Understanding technology integration for a small business.

Enjoy the show!

Connect with Bette:

Website: https://bettehochberger.com/

Connect with Kris:

Website: https://www.lpfadvisors.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristopher-flammang-lpfadv/

Twitter: @kflammang

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeffrey H. Skatoff, Esq.

– The Confident Retirement Podcast with Kris Flammang

Episode 038 Does a Trust solve all estate plan problems? With Jeffrey H. Skatoff, Esq.

Jeffrey H. Skatoff is the founder and primary contributor to Probate Stars, a website that offers information for clients to understand inheritance solutions. For over 30 years, Jeffery has practiced law in the areas of probate, estate litigation, trust litigation, guardianship litigation, estate planning, and taxation. 

In the estate planning area, he has prepared estate plans of all complexities, for young families with minor children, to owners of large, complex, multi-state businesses, including those with international aspects.

For the past 20 years he has worked in the Florida probate administration area, handling close to 1,000 probate administrations, from simple estates to very large and complex taxable estates, often with assets throughout the world.

Highlights of our conversation include:

Understanding the purposes of a revocable trust.

The reason for running an estate litigation bar, the biggest in the country.

How Probate Stars operates.

How the Probate Stars website can help those who want to be educated before speaking with a lawyer.

The challenge of running the website and growing the opportunities.

A case study involving a one of three siblings acting as a family caregiver.

Enjoy the show!

Connect with Jeffrey:

Website: https://probatestars.com/contributors/

Connect with Kris:

Website: https://www.lpfadvisors.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristopher-flammang-lpfadv/

Twitter: @kflammang

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices