Protecting Your Nest Egg

Here’s what the team at Pinzone Financial Services says anyone planning to retire needs to know—before they start the journey.

By: Mimi Vanderhaven
Date: 01/07/2010
When you’re young, accumulating wealth is relatively easy,” says Mark Pinzone, financial advisor and owner of Pinzone Financial Services. “Young people have a lifetime to build a nest egg. The real challenge comes when it’s time for retirement and a steady stream of income has to be replaced with the monies you’ve invested.”
Of course the recent upheavals in the financial market have had many retirees imagining a future filled with struggle and uncertainty.

“It was a scary time,” Mark concedes. “We’re still recovering. But the market is always going to have its ups and downs. What is important is for older adults to protect their assets so they can weather any financial storm. That’s where we come in.”

The Circle of Trust
Determined to offer more than sound financial advice, Mark has assembled a team of experienced pros, which includes financial advisor Marty Healy and attorney Grant Relic. Grant is a Brunswick resident who specializes in estate planning, probate, real estate and small business. Also within the Pinzone fold are a mortgage professional and an accountant and a stock broker.

“Our expertise includes addressing multiple pieces of the financial puzzle,” Mark promises. “We have an exceptional team and can guide our clients in their choices relating to everything from proper investments to insurance and legal documents. Depending upon a client’s needs, we can ensure that all the bases are covered. Some clients require a tremendous amount of assistance; others may only require one aspect of our services. Regardless of where a client presents a need, it’s nice to know he or she is part of a circle of trust.”

An important part of establishing that circle, Mark says, has been providing clients with an uncommon level of education.

Client Education
“Marty and I feel strongly that an educated client is a client with the power to control his or her own destiny,” says Mark, a finance and law instructor at the local high school in his off hours. “It’s never too late to gain a better understanding of your financial picture.”

And because both Mark and Marty make it a point to stay up to date on the latest happenings in the volatile financial market, they work to help clients maintain their standards of living when they embark on the retirement journey.

“By and large we’re talking about the money retirees need to live on, and for a while those funds were compromised. These folks don’t want to outlive their money,” Mark describes. “They need a very solid distribution plan for their funds. What we have to work to do is protect that pot, and there are strategies we can implement to do that.”

“Most people don’t realize how many hundreds of available options there are,” he continues, noting that a number of recent changes and the introduction of new products on the investment side of things have been designed to benefit retirees.

Recent Changes
“Mutual fund companies have worked hard to come up with fund products that provide retirement distribution to meet income needs,” he reveals. “Insurance companies have developed new products for life insurance, long-term care insurance, and annuity contracts to benefit retirees. Recent tax laws have also been passed that have the interests of older investors in mind.

These changes and product additions, Mark says, have been created to address the changing demographics of the country. “Baby boomers are getting older,” he inserts. “The good news is there have been numerous strategies introduced to meet the needs of those who will be retiring.”

Pending changes to the estate tax exemption mean that for 2010 there will be no federal estate tax. “It’s crucial for every retiree, or anyone considering retirement, to take advantage of every available option,” Mark stresses.

The longer you wait, however, the more difficult it will be to ensure that you’ve assembled all of the necessary pieces of your life puzzle to complete your long-term financial picture.

“The goal of anyone who is getting older should be to protect his or her assets,” he says. “There are tools that we can introduce to effectively do just that.”

Getting Started
The easiest way to establish a relationship with Pinzone Financial Services is to give Mark or Marty a call to schedule a confidential portfolio analysis.

“Because of the remarkable group of talent we have on the team, we’re able to service a diverse client base,” Mark says. “We never stop working to find more ways to help our clients. Our circle is strong and we’ll continue to seek out other professionals who can fortify that strength and underscore our service commitment.”

Part of that service commitment includes regularly scheduled meetings with clients to review their financial standings. “At the very minimum, we’re going to meet with you yearly,” Mark promises. “For some, it may be necessary to strategize far more often.”

“I understand that not every investor is going to feel as passionate about financial planning as I do, and that’s okay,” he smiles. “I try to make it as interesting as possible for my clients so they at least have an understanding of what’s happening with their resources.”

As a local business owner, Mark has a particular fondness for other small business owners and has established a program that’s tailored to meet the needs of these individuals. In fact, he left a large investment company in 1995 because he thought the company was too big to offer personalized service.

We can set up 401(k), profit sharing plans and simple IRA’s for employers. We can even help set up corporations, work on contracts between business owners and do succession planning through our attorney, Grant Relic,” he offers. “We’re here to be a resource for our clients, no matter where they are in their lives.”

To schedule a no-obligation consultation with a member of the Pinzone Financial Team, call 440-878-1863, or send an e-mail to pinzonefinancial@adelphia.net. Hours are by appointment, at your convenience.

Securities offered through PrimeSolutions Securities, Inc. 17601 W. 130th Street, North Royalton, Ohio 44133. 440-230-5400. Member FINRA, SIPC.

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