Scott welcomed Ruth Raftery in the studio for a discussion about the importance of education in estate and tax planning, the role of financial advisors in collaborating with estate planning attorneys, and shares insights on effective tax planning strategies.

Ruth Raftery, JD, CPA, AEP® is a licensed attorney and a Certified Public Accountant with over 20 years of experience. As President and co-founder of Advanced Planning Educational Group (APEG), Ruth is responsible for creating and executing the design and strategic direction of APEG’s mission to support the needs of professionals who participate in the holistic planning process. In addition to her role with APEG, Ruth also serves as a Senior Advisor to AltaView Advisors, LLC a business valuation firm with offices in Orange County, San Francisco, Dallas, and New York, and is an instructor at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, where she teaches Income Tax in the post-graduate certification program.

Ruth has developed and taught various Estate, Gift, Trust, and Tax courses throughout her career. She is past President of the Estate Planning Council of New York City, past Chair of the Estate Planning Committee of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants and is an Accredited Estate Planner designee™ awarded by the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils. Ruth received her undergraduate degree in Accounting from the University of Scranton and her Law Degree from Temple University School of Law. She and her husband Brian live in Westfield, NJ. She and Brian have three college-aged daughters – Brigid, Megan, and Erin.

In this episode you will learn the following:

1. The importance of building relationships with attorneys and accountants for financial advisors to effectively incorporate estate and tax planning into their practices.
2. The critical role that financial advisors play in educating clients about estate planning without crossing into legal advice.
3. Innovative strategies, such as leveraging Roth conversions not just for tax benefits, but also for strategic financial planning, such as funding life insurance policies.
4. The unique dynamics of female advisor conferences and the importance of fostering intimate, supportive environments for women in the financial industry. Ruth shares insights into how these settings can encourage authenticity and collaboration, ultimately supporting the growth and success of female financial advisors.

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This is the Optimized Advisor Podcast, where we focus on optimizing the wellbeing and best practices of insurance and financial professionals. Our objective is to help you optimize your life, optimize your profession, and learn from other optimized advisors. If you have questions or would like to be a featured guest, email us at optimizedadvisor@optimizedins.com

Optimized Insurance Planning

Scott welcomed Steve Prew to the virtual studio for this week’s episode where they discuss discussing the evolution of financial advising, the importance of lifelong learning, and how The American College is adapting its educational offerings to meet the changing needs of both advisors and the financial industry at large.

Steve Prew is the Vice President and National Sales Manager at The American College of Financial Services. In his current role, Steve leads a dynamic sales team focused on exploring, developing, and managing institutional relationships within both the insurance and investment sectors of the industry.

Before joining The American College, Steve held a variety of roles with increasing responsibility, including retail advisor, internal and external wholesaler, key accounts manager, and national sales manager. These experiences have provided him with a well-rounded understanding of the financial services landscape.

A U.S. Navy veteran, Steve holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and an MBA with a focus in Strategic Management from Regis University. He currently resides in Highlands Ranch, CO with his wife, Katie. In his free time, Steve enjoys outdoor activities such as golfing, cycling, and bowhunting.

In this episode you will learn the following:

1. How The American College of Financial Services focuses on lifelong learning and the evolving landscape of financial services education.
2. The importance of continuous education in financial services, emphasizing the American College's role in providing specialized designations like the Tax Planning Certified Professional and Wealth Management Certified Professional.
3. The changing dynamics in the financial advisory industry, including the integration of insurance and investments, the recruitment of younger advisors, and the shift away from traditional four-year college degrees.
4. The American College's innovative approaches to education delivery, such as their Personal Pathway model and Knowledge Hub, which offer interactive, accessible, and comprehensive learning experiences for financial professionals.

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Connect with Steve on LinkedIn

For more on The Optimized Advisor Podcast click here
For more on The American College click here

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This is the Optimized Advisor Podcast, where we focus on optimizing the wellbeing and best practices of insurance and financial professionals. Our objective is to help you optimize your life, optimize your profession, and learn from other optimized advisors. If you have questions or would like to be a featured guest, email us at optimizedadvisor@optimizedins.com

Optimized Insurance Planning

Scott was joined by Walter Young in the virtual studio for a discussion on retirement income strategies, focusing on Young's book "The Fifth Option," which explores innovative approaches to retirement planning that go beyond traditional methods, such as utilizing actuarial science and investments to create a predictable and efficient income stream.

Walter C. Young ,MBA, RICP, is a dynamic financial expert, national speaker, Industry panelist and Amazon best-selling author of The 5Th Option. Walter helps his audiences learn about the challenges retirees face in a modern economic environment and post pension society. His blend of stories, humor and financial planning theory keeps audiences entertained while learning the very latest academic research in retirement income planning. He earns rave reviews and guests often stay long after his presentation has ended to continue conversations.

With over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, Walter has become a thought leader in economic-based financial planning theory, helping clients develop strategies to achieve their retirement goals.

Walter holds the prestigious Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP) designation from the American College of Financial Services and a Master's in Business from Seattle University and is a member of the exclusive Forum 400.

In this episode you will learn the following:

1. The "Fifth Option" in retirement planning, which challenges traditional financial planning strategies by integrating actuarial science and investments to recreate the stability once provided by pensions and Social Security.
2. The shortcomings of the traditional three-legged stool of retirement (pension, Social Security, and personal savings) and emphasizes the importance of creating a sustainable cash flow strategy, especially in the absence of pensions.
3. The "Beat the Bear" strategy, which involves using non-correlated assets like cash value life insurance to protect against market downturns, and the "Bucket Strategy," which segments assets into now, soon, and later buckets to manage risk and income flow over time.
4. The need for individuals to rethink retirement planning by focusing on creating predictable, risk-managed income streams using innovative financial products and strategies, aiming for a more efficient and confident retirement experience.

Connect with Scott on LinkedIn
Connect with Walter on LinkedIn

For more on The Optimized Advisor Podcast click here
For more on The 5th Option and to purchase the book click here

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This is the Optimized Advisor Podcast, where we focus on optimizing the wellbeing and best practices of insurance and financial professionals. Our objective is to help you optimize your life, optimize your profession, and learn from other optimized advisors. If you have questions or would like to be a featured guest, email us at optimizedadvisor@optimizedins.com

Optimized Insurance Planning