After an extended summer hiatus, here is the next installment in a continuing series on the topic of creating a pre-retirement financial planning checklist.  You may recall my previous blogs were based upon a simple airplane landing analogy.   THE RETIREMENT TRANSITION ANALOGY: GETTING THE PLANE READY TO LAND. PREPARE FOR LANDING: A RETIREMENT READINESS ANALOGY-VISUALIZING RETIREMENT PREPARING FOR RETIREMENT CHECKLIST: DOING THE MATH!   After a relatively long and uneventful flight, the crew springs into a flurry of pre landing activities during the last 15 minutes, necessary to guarantee that the landing is safe and on time. Likewise, as we near our retirement date, there are some critical tasks necessary to be ready for a safe and well-planned transition.  In this segment, let’s examine the need to make some substantive changes to our investment portfolio to accommodate the need for retirement income. The airplane analogy works well in describing this transition.  During...

REVISED – 9/8/2021 Governor Kathy Hochul recently directed the New York State Health Commissioner to enforce the NY HERO Act.  The law, passed and signed into law several months ago, requires NY employers to develop an airborne infectious disease prevention plan to protect employees during health emergencies such as the current global pandemic. Because of this designation, we are required to make several changes to our in-office policies for both employees and visitors.  Below are our updated protocols as of 9/9/2021. Non-vaccinated visitors to our offices will be required to wear masks.  Visitors for in-person meetings will be required to undergo a temperature check and answer health-related questions, following CDC Guidelines.  In situations where social distancing cannot be maintained, everyone will be required to wear a mask. Those with a temperature of 100.4 or higher will not be allowed to attend their meeting in-person. We will politely ask visitors to go back to their vehicle...

PRESS RELEASE Amherst, NY: Level Financial Advisors has hired Alyssa Bogardus as a Financial Planning Associate at the fee-only investment management and financial planning firm. She will assist in client meetings, preparing financial plans and researching strategies to help clients save money, reduce taxes, and improve their financial lives. She will also contribute to the firm’s financial planning and investment committees and work on special projects while preparing for CFP® certification in the near future. Ms. Bogardus received a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Edinboro University, graduating summa cum laude in May. Her studies included a concentration in accounting and personal financial planning. Ms. Bogardus is a native of Girard, Pennsylvania and currently resides in Amherst, NY. Level manages $548 million in assets for 617 households and is based in Amherst. The firm has been in business since 1979 and recently opened an additional office in Hamburg, NY....

PRESS RELEASE Amherst, NY: Level Financial Advisors has hired Catherine O’Brien as a Client Services Specialist at the fee-only investment management and financial planning firm. She will assist the firm’s client services department with various administrative activities including working with clients on daily requests, deepening client relationships, and assisting the company’s financial advisors with meetings and paperwork. She will also have responsibilities for greeting visitors to the Amherst office. Ms. O’Brien received an associates degree from Erie Community College in 2018 and is currently enrolled at the University of Buffalo where she is pursuing a degree in business administration. Prior to joining Level, Ms. O’Brien worked as the Membership Director for YMCA Buffalo Niagara.  She also worked in various roles with the organization beginning in 2013 until joining Level. Ms. O’Brien has served as the Membership Chair for YMCA’s Professional Network, Chapter 7 and received a certification of appreciation from the United States Marine Corps...