Category: Education

FEATURE
Mortgage Mastery: Navigating Interest Rates With Russ Nash (Ep.19)

Mortgage Mastery: Navigating Interest Rates With Russ Nash (Ep.19)

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Looking to explore how mortgage interest rates impact your home-buying decisions? 

Join David Koren as he and Russ Nash from George Mason Mortgage share valuable insights on navigating mortgage interest rates for primary, vacation, and investment properties. Gain a deeper understanding of construction loans, refinancing strategies, and how to optimize your home-buying decisions.

David & Russ discuss: 

  • Mortgage interest rates
  • Refinancing strategies
  • Investment properties
  • Construction loans
  • Asset depletion 
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with David Koren: 

Connect with Russ Nash:

About our Guest: 

Russell Nash has been working in the mortgage field for the last 25 years and is currently a branch manager at George Mason Mortgage, LLC NMLS #327463. Whether you’re moving into your first home, moving up to something bigger, building, renovating, or refinancing your current mortgage, he prides himself on being able to help you build a brighter future. He is committed to providing clients with prompt and transparent communication, excellent customer service, competitive rates, programs and fees, and service even after settlement.

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Empowering Financial Advice for Women with Robin Colton (Ep. 18)

Empowering Financial Advice for Women with Robin Colton (Ep. 18)

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Despite strides in equality, many women still face unique challenges when it comes to managing their finances and planning for retirement.

In the latest episode of Unleash Your Retirement, David Koren sits down with his colleague and friend, Robin Colton for a candid conversation about the barriers female clients often face within the financial industry. By addressing the importance of education and finding advisors who respect women’s unique financial needs, this podcast serves as a beacon for women looking to navigate the complexities of finance with assurance and wisdom. David and Robin explore practical strategies and insights that may empower women to become more involved in financial decision-making, especially as they are poised to control a significant portion of stock market wealth in the coming years.

David and Robin discuss:

  • Importance of women in managing finances and retirement planning
    Strategies for education and finding quality advisors
    Challenges women face in the world of finance
    Empowering women
    And more

Resources:

Connect With David Koren:

Connect With Robin Colton:

About Our Guest:

Robin Colton delivers personalized financial advice to clients to achieve goals, today and tomorrow.

Robin takes the time to understand what’s truly important to you. She documents clients’ goals, tracks their progress, and makes ongoing recommendations to help diversify their portfolio, and adjust it to whatever life brings — both the expected and the unexpected.

No matter who you are, Robin can help you feel confident, connected, and always in control of your financial life.

Securities offered by Registered Representatives through Private Client Services. Member FINRA / SIPC. Advisory services offered by Investment Advisory Representatives of RFG Advisory, LLC (“RFG Advisory” or “RFG”), a registered investment advisor. Private Client Services, RVA Wealth Management, and RFG Advisory are unaffiliated entities. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where RFG Advisory and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. No advisory services may be rendered by RFG Advisory unless a client agreement is in place.

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The Role Your Financial Advisor Plays in Managing Your Wealth (Ep. 17)

The Role Your Financial Advisor Plays in Managing Your Wealth (Ep. 17)

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Considering getting a financial advisor but don’t know if it’s worth it? 

We feel like we’re family here at RVA Wealth, and when a client comes in, we become a part of their family too, and that’s a very important aspect of being an effective wealth manager.

This week on Unleash Your Retirement, David Koren and Michael P. Smith, CFP®, discuss financial advisors’ important role in wealth management. They explore the importance of establishing a strong, long-term relationship with clients, and discuss complex issues such as estate planning and assisted living. They emphasize proactive planning to help avoid probate, the benefits of comprehensive financial planning, and the importance of working with a fiduciary consultant to help clients and their families manage their wealth.

David and Michael discuss: 

  • The role of financial advisors in wealth management
  • How financial advisors become an extension of their client’s families
  • What probate is and how proactive financial planning could help you avoid it
  • Their personal anecdotes and experiences in financial planning
  • And more

Resources:

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Connect with Michael P. Smith:

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2024 Outlook: A Discussion on Investment Opportunities and Potential Concerns (Ep. 16)

2024 Outlook: A Discussion on Investment Opportunities and Potential Concerns (Ep. 16)

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2023 was quite an eventful year, and it unexpectedly finished with strong market returns. But what were the major contributors? And more importantly, what can we expect moving forward?

Let’s reflect on these questions with David Koren, MBA, ChFC®, CLU®, and Michael P. Smith, CFP®. Together, they explore the key factors shaping the financial landscape for 2024, highlighting both opportunities and concerns.

David and Mike discuss: 

  • Recent trends for stocks, bonds, and the US economy
  • The potential economic impact of AI across industries, including financial services
  • How RVA Wealth Management is leveraging AI to improve client services
  • Key implications of the Federal Reserve’s actions
  • Investment opportunities to consider in 2024
  • And more!

Connect with David Koren: 

Connect with Michael P. Smith:

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Managing Your Cashflow & Setting SMART Goals (Ep. 14)

Managing Your Cashflow & Setting SMART Goals (Ep. 14)

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Cashflow management may sound intimidating, but it is simply knowing where you spend and how to make sure you spend wisely.

Join David as he talks about why budgeting and cash flow management are important, especially in retirement. He highlights the necessity of understanding where money is coming from and where it’s going and provides tips on tracking expenses and income. He also discusses the challenges of variable income and the stress often associated with holiday spending. Gain insight as he shares personal examples of helping his family with budgeting, emphasizing the need to differentiate between wants and needs. He also suggests using tools like Mint and setting SMART financial goals. 

David discusses: 

  • The importance of budgeting and cash flow management in retirement
  • Tips on tracking expenses and income
  • Personal experiences with budgeting and cash flow management
  • How to analyze expenses and areas to cut back
  • Setting SMART goals for savings and investments
  • And more

Resources:

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Insurance Strategies for Retirement with Caleb Vaughan, CFP® (Ep.13)

Insurance Strategies for Retirement with Caleb Vaughan, CFP® (Ep.13)

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Protecting your loved ones comes in many forms, and setting aside the right financial resources for yourself in your retirement is one of them!

In this episode, David Koren invites Caleb Vaughan, Financial Planning Strategist at RVA Wealth Management, onto the show to discuss risk mitigation and insurance in retirement. Together they highlight the importance of various types of insurance, including disability income insurance, life insurance, health insurance, and property and casualty coverage. 

Caleb provides insights into the cost of health insurance and Medicare, and the role of life insurance in estate planning. The discussion also covers the challenges and alternatives of long-term care insurance. 

David & Caleb discuss: 

  • The various types of insurance you need to consider investing in for retirement
  • How to strategically save for health insurance and Medicare
  • Factors to consider for long-term care, in-home or in an assisted living facility
  • How a financial planner can make these processes seamless for you and your family
  • And more

Connect with David Koren: 

Connect with Caleb Vaughan:

About Our Guest: 

Caleb is a CFP® and brings with him a wealth of financial planning knowledge to the firm. Caleb specializes in developing creative solutions for our clients’ most complex problems. Caleb was attracted to RVA Wealth Management because of the firm’s focus on delivering an engaging, highly personalized client experience and its commitment to the highest standard of integrity.
Originally from Mechanicsville, Virginia, Caleb obtained his B.S. from Virginia Tech and spent nearly 6 years serving clients at a prominent wealth management firm in Greensboro, North Carolina. Caleb and his wife Jenny decided to move back home to be closer to family after the birth of their second daughter.

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Common Investment Risks with Michael P. Smith (Ep.12)

Common Investment Risks with Michael P. Smith (Ep.12)

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Can investments be both growth-oriented and risk-averse?

In the latest episode of Unleash Your Retirement, David Koren is joined once again by Michael P. Smith to close out their 3-part investment series. This episode will help you uncover the balance between seeking growth and minimizing risk in your investment portfolio.

Their conversation offers a wealth of insights, including:

  • Decoding risks in investments from company troubles to market trends
  • Why spreading your investments is crucial
  • Growth tactics for the young investor: high gains with calculated risks
  • Financial prep for retirees: managing money for life’s surprises
  • Tackling inflation and investment ties: strategic planning essentials
  • Going global: using “bond ladders” for smarter international investments
  • Modern portfolio theory: custom-fit your investment comfort level
  • And much more!

Resources:

Connect with David Koren: 

Connect with Michael P. Smith:

 

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How To Secure Your Retirement with Michael P. Smith (Ep. 11)

How To Secure Your Retirement with Michael P. Smith (Ep. 11)

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Lost in the maze of Annuities, Mutual Funds, and ETFs?

Let us simplify it for you.

While visions of a relaxed retirement dance in your head, the journey there requires careful planning. Navigate the nuances with David Koren of RVA Wealth Management as he teams up with Mike P. Smith to unravel the complexities of the investment world.

Throughout the episode, David and Mike unpack:

  • What are the hidden pitfalls and surprising perks of mutual funds? 
  • How intricate layers, tax traps, and a pro’s advice could be a game-changer for your employee stock options
  • Why everyone is talking about ETFs and how they might be giving mutual funds a run for their money
  • How a finance pro can pivot your tax strategies and navigate the quirkiest of investment scenarios
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with David Koren: 

Connect with Michael P. Smith:

About Our Guest: 

Michael P. Smith is a Certified Financial Planner with over 20 years of experience and a Portfolio Manager at RVA Wealth Management. Starting his career on the Boston Stock Exchange, Mike is a professional in turning retirement worries into well-laid plans. He’s not just a financial guide but a guardian of your future, adhering to the highest ethical standards. With RVA Wealth Management, Mike is all about active communication and customized investment strategies. Off the clock, he’s a family man and community leader, deeply rooted in sports and local organizations.

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Investing In Stocks and Bonds with Michael P. Smith (Ep. 10)

Investing In Stocks and Bonds with Michael P. Smith (Ep. 10)

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Investing in stocks and bonds can be a battle of risk and reward if you don’t know what you’re doing.

That’s why we’re here to help.

David welcomes back his fellow colleague Michael P. Smith to continue their conversation about investing. They narrow their conversation from retirement investing to investing in stocks and bonds. With a background in the stock exchange, Mike explains the concept of bond pricing and yield, the importance of understanding bond ratings, and the impact of interest rate changes on bond values. David and Mike also compare stocks and bonds as investment options, highlighting the risks and potential returns of each.

David and Michael go over: 

  • Understanding bond pricing and yield
  • What Bond laddering is
  • The importance of understanding bond ratings and their indication of risk profile
  • A comparison between stocks and bonds as investment options, highlighting the safety of bonds and the potential for long-term growth in stocks
  • The importance of seeking professional advice when it comes to investing, and how an advisor can help
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with David Koren: 

Connect with Michael P. Smith:

About our Guest: 

Michael P. Smith is a Certified Financial Planner with over 20 years of experience and a Portfolio Manager at RVA Wealth Management. Starting his career on the Boston Stock Exchange, Mike is a professional in turning retirement worries into well-laid plans. He’s not just a financial guide but a guardian of your future, adhering to the highest ethical standards. With RVA Wealth Management, Mike is all about active communication and customized investment strategies. Off the clock, he’s a family man and community leader, deeply rooted in sports and local organizations.

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