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Steve introduces his guest, Lauren Flanagan Russo, Senior planner and Vice President at Zynergy Retirement Planning. She works with people to make sure the retirement they desire is there for them. She also has a background in financial services and has served in many non profit boards. Lauren speaks with Steve about her journey, mentioning that she has always had a desire to connect with people. She met the founder of Zynergy through her past work at the Chamber of Commerce. Lauren says that at the time in 2009, she saw how many people were being taken advantage of while working in the banking industry. Zynergy stands by creating a connection and trust, more than just focusing on finances. She says that the founder, Ryan Zacharczyk, wanted to get into finance and change how things were done. He took the risk to do things on his own, regardless of what the normal journey would be.
Retirement is something that everyone has to deal with, and the rules and things to look out for are always changing. Lauren mentions that the initial meeting is talking about their client about their goals with their money, retirement, and their goals. They also do social security analysis and things like current investments. Lauren also does surveys to understand what is important to that person after retirement such as spending time with family, volunteering, etc. Not only do they do philanthropic work, part of their model is also to see what clients would want to do if that calls to their attention. She also talks with Steve more about their mission and how their goal is to grow together long term even with someone who may come to them with no assets. Zynergy will also be hands on with helping manage money. While doing financial planning and recommending insurance for instance, Lauren emphasizes that she doesn't sell products and doesn't get any commission for anything. Rather, the point is to recommend things for the best interest for her clients. She talks about a grant program to also help people learn a new skill, they also give away a trip every year, something that she loves about Zynergy. Lauren and Steve discuss the homestretch towards what Zynergy does once they help their clients get in the right direction.
Steve mentions Zynergy Cares, the charitable arm of Zynergy Retirement Planning. Lauren talks with Steve about Zynergy’s happiness hierarchy (pleasure, passion, purpose, connection). What happens often is that people think a lot about retirement but not what are you going to retire to. Lauren mentions a client she had one time where what stuck with her was his advice on his pleasure and happiness. They told her his secret is to “rest, rest, and rest.” One of the things she helps with is also finding what's right in this area for someone. Before giving anyone the green flag to retire, Lauren says that she makes sure that the planning is right so that someone doesn't have to worry about cutting expenses once they retire because of the market or any changes around them. Everything comes down to lifestyles as someone with a $250,000 portfolio can retire for example. There is no magic number of how much money someone needs to be able to move on. Health for example, is very important and a bigger asset than money.
Coming back from the final break, Lauren drops some sound bites before the weekend begins. One thing she reminds us is to “retire to something”, meaning finding your passion and interests. The biggest thing she mentions when looking for a financial planner, make sure you can feel like you can trust them, they are open to answering and learning about you, and more. Lauren also speaks on advice about looking out for mindful spending and investing. You can call 732-784-2380 to schedule a free consultation with a retirement specialist. Before closing the show, Steve gives us Lauren’s answers to his favorite questions revolving around movies, tv shows and music which also leads them to a quick discussion honoring women’s history month. Next week, Steve will be joined by a guest from OneHope Wine, a winery raising awareness and funding for charitable organizations and social causes.
00:00:43.950 --> 00:00:54.360 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: Well, Hello! Out there, planet Earth and Happy Friday. 2,023 is flying by. Welcome to the last day of the first quarter accountants are entering full-blown panic mode.
00:00:54.360 --> 00:01:09.320 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: It's Friday, and it's always Friday, with me, Stephen Fry, your Smb. Guy. I see why am I or in case you missed it. Smb stands for small and medium sized business. For the last 20 years I've been a consultant for Smbs, a voice and a sounding board for business leaders
00:01:09.320 --> 00:01:25.590 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: mit ctl, and advocating on their behalf. Their employees, too, can't forget about them, I believe very strongly. Everybody in sharing stories providing perspective and creating connection. So every single Friday you could find me right here on talk radio, dot Nyc doing just that one
00:01:25.590 --> 00:01:41.920 lending what's left of my mind and my voice to this radio show right interview business leaders and their trusted advisors. One thing that I've noticed consistently over the years. Some of the best thought leadership for SMS actually happens on Friday, just about the time we feel the freedom of the weekend coming.
00:01:41.920 --> 00:01:52.540 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: However, we're also anxious to start the weekend. These crucial pearls of wisdom. They're often overlooked. They're forgotten. There is the side in favor of our fun activities and our freedom from work
00:01:52.540 --> 00:02:08.500 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: here on the show. We take advantage of that weekend freedom and clarity, and we discuss popular topics that are on the minds of business leaders and their trusted advisors. Once again the name of the show, not just to play on words. My last name means free and German little method behind the madness for you.
00:02:08.539 --> 00:02:10.120 Baseball is back.
00:02:10.150 --> 00:02:21.880 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: as you can see New York teams off to a flying start yesterday. Obviously, my fantasy baseball team is already struggling with injuries and doesn't have a prayer. Oh, well, i'm kind of used to it.
00:02:21.890 --> 00:02:36.740 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: Golf season back as well. These are a few of my favorite things. This is a great time of year I get really excited, although whenever I put my clubs in the car right now, the temperature tends to drop about 20 to 30 degrees, which it seems like i'm the kiss of death lately.
00:02:36.760 --> 00:02:48.250 You know it's really cold out there this morning. We're going to talk about something that hopefully gives you a nice, warm feeling. Today we're going to talk a little bit about enriching life with our special guests from zenergy Retirement
00:02:48.320 --> 00:02:58.560 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: in retirement Time is your most valuable resource. You spend your time doing the things that you enjoy, both with your loved ones and potentially within your community.
00:02:58.700 --> 00:03:06.250 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: To make that happen. You need resources that will help you maximize your time, not just professional advice for your finances.
00:03:07.420 --> 00:03:20.080 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: You need to find exciting and engaging things locally within within your community like with whether it's your family. Your friends, you know, enjoy great meals. You gotta be able to take pleasures. You gotta remember to live
00:03:20.080 --> 00:03:31.370 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: well. Our special guest and her colleagues have one focus, which is your retirement. They work with people each day to ensure that the retirement that they desire is there for them, which is exactly what they want it to be.
00:03:31.380 --> 00:03:33.480 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: Talk is cheap. We know that
00:03:33.580 --> 00:03:46.050 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: we're on talk radio and Nyc. We don't want this to just be talk. The whole idea here is, let's use the insight that we get on the business landscape today and create more and more impact on Monday morning.
00:03:46.050 --> 00:04:05.260 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: Far too often the folks that I deal with out there. They're focused on some type of product that's going to solve all of their problems, especially in the financial services world. The shiny new mouse trap, the magic wand, the magic bullet, whatever you want to call it, products change every single day in every aspect of our lives, and I know my special guest is going to agree with me on that.
00:04:05.260 --> 00:04:21.540 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: There's no substitute for surrounding yourself with the right people, first keeping your eye on the process that's going to help you achieve your goals also. Very process oriented today, which gets me excited as long as you do this, the right products will be there when you need them. Everything begins and ends with people.
00:04:21.540 --> 00:04:35.040 So in the spirit of surrounding yourself with the right people, we have a great show for you here today. Our special guest is Lauren Russo, Senior Planner and Vice President, with Zenergy retirement planning. So Lauren Flanagan Rousseau
00:04:35.040 --> 00:04:53.280 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: she specialises in working with mature adults over 50 years old, the ones that are entering the home stretch to retirement. She spent the better part of a decade in financial services, beginning at Merrill Lynch, and ending at a Community bank here in Mammoth County before Joining's energy retirement, planning in 2,012
00:04:53.300 --> 00:05:21.490 Lauren has served on many nonprofit boards throughout the years. Currently she serves on of Red Bank, where we spent some time together. and is an active manager for daughters. Pta, also proud co-founder and treasurer of Z. Energy, cares a 501 c 3 foundation dedicated to improving the community through philanthropy and service Lauren holds the certified financial planner, Cfp. Designation and is a member of the Financial Planning Association, Fpa.
00:05:21.650 --> 00:05:26.310 The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors, and a. Pfa is
00:05:26.450 --> 00:05:32.760 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: she is also a certified divorce financial analyst, Cdfa. We have all kinds of acronyms for you here today. No problem
00:05:32.810 --> 00:05:49.520 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: abbreviations. Lauren was recently named as a five-star money manager by New Jersey Monthly Magazine, ranking in the top 2% of all money managers nationwide. She received her bachelor of arts in economics and business administration in Spanish from her Scientist College, where she was captain of their division, one field hockey team.
00:05:49.520 --> 00:06:05.350 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: She received her Mba from Mammoth University, and is a graduate of the College of Financial Planning, Cfp: certification, Professional education program. Lauren lives in Ocean township with her husband, 6 children, Brady Bunch Style and their Kavapoo, Tilly.
00:06:05.450 --> 00:06:21.880 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: Lauren, and Z. Energy have a phenomenal approach to working with their clients, enriching their lives to and through retirement, As always we're going to discuss my favorite questions around movies, TV and music. Lauren's husband and I are nursing our wounds after getting beaten. A charity poker event last night, but coming to us
00:06:21.880 --> 00:06:27.470 from brisk Mammoth County this morning, Lauren. Welcome to the show. Great to see you 2 days in a row.
00:06:27.630 --> 00:06:29.720 Lauren Flanagan Russo: Good morning. Thank you for having me.
00:06:30.190 --> 00:06:45.440 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: I've said it before, Lauren. I'll say it again as someone who has been in and out of many financial professionals offices over the last 20 years. There's a feeling of warmth caring and family and community really, that resonates when you walk into this energy office
00:06:45.550 --> 00:06:53.370 we want to hear about your travels coming from the Merrill Lynch Community Bank World to the zenergy world. Tell us a little bit about how you got where you are today.
00:06:53.530 --> 00:07:04.440 Lauren Flanagan Russo: Yeah, Absolutely so it was, I guess, an interesting road, but I think what was always driving me through the different positions was this desire to to help people, and and with people.
00:07:04.580 --> 00:07:13.670 Lauren Flanagan Russo: and I met Ryan very early in my career when I was working at the Community Bank, Ryan founded energy back in 2,012, and
00:07:13.670 --> 00:07:31.350 Lauren Flanagan Russo: or I'm sorry in 2,007, and we met through the Chamber of Commerce at that point, and ended up serving on many boards together. And that's really what drew me here. I I love the way he did things. He set out to do things very differently. But really we just shared this passion for helping people which connected us. Early on
00:07:31.350 --> 00:07:36.870 Lauren Flanagan Russo: I started doing part time work for him in 2,009, and then came on full time in 2,012,
00:07:37.790 --> 00:07:56.260 you know, especially with financial services and the folks that I've partnered with and worked with over the years. It's, you know. You tend to hear a lot of the same commercials. I work with high net worth individuals. I make sure people don't run out of money through retirement. It's just the way that I I would agree with you the way that Z. Energy attacks everything is
00:07:56.340 --> 00:08:09.940 is so about the people first, and that's why it resonates so deeply with me, instead of just going straight after. What are your investable assets? What are your retirement? Go! It's just there's there's so much more to it than that. And that's it. Seems like that's what hits you kind of early on as well.
00:08:10.060 --> 00:08:26.480 Lauren Flanagan Russo: Yeah, absolutely. I think one At that point I was working in banking, and it was, you know, right around the banking crisis. And you know I was seeing so many things about financial advisors who are taking advantage of their clients and the lack of transparency there.
00:08:26.510 --> 00:08:43.409 Lauren Flanagan Russo: Really, I really just it Didn't: Sit well with me, and I would see these emails that Ryan was sending out constantly to you know at that point a small client base, and it was really explaining everything that was going on in the market and saying, here's my cell phone. If you have an issue. If you're nervous, call me.
00:08:43.409 --> 00:09:01.410 Lauren Flanagan Russo: And that spoke to me, it it brought me right into the folds of energy, and it's really been a huge part of my life ever since. And we we stand by that, you know. We bring people in for prospect meetings. They're leaving, you know, giving us hugs, telling us that they've never felt so comfortable talking about finances.
00:09:01.410 --> 00:09:18.990 Lauren Flanagan Russo: But I think a lot of that goes to what you were saying about the work in the office, but also our process. You know we don't sit down and say, Well, how much do you have. What what are we going to manage? It's really about? Is this the right fit for you? Do you feel like you know you can trust us and see a a long term relationship with us.
00:09:18.990 --> 00:09:25.320 Lauren Flanagan Russo: and then, if so like we, You know we're happy to help you. We want to be your partner and your your guide through retirement.
00:09:25.890 --> 00:09:53.310 Lauren Flanagan Russo: Yeah, we're getting to a point these days where you might have to actually specify which banking crisis that you're referring to. But you know that's that's a topic for a whole other day. But yeah, this this this type of approach, You know, this really people centric type of approach. And and you guys again with energy, cares very philanthropic organization, very community oriented. I I see this energy name everywhere around Mammoth County almost everywhere I go, but it's an and and, by the way, the whole idea of doing the Newsletters and everything is great.
00:09:53.310 --> 00:10:13.710 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: I love the fact that you guys have put together cartoon videos. And yeah, it's great for me because I love messing with my green screen. But cartoons and things like that, especially in finance. It resonates so deeply with me to be able to communicate some of the messages that you really want to get across, because almost anybody can identify with a cartoon. I don't know I can. I love it.
00:10:13.710 --> 00:10:24.820 Lauren Flanagan Russo: Yeah, I think it's so important to have, you know, something like that, or just a story to share with people that takes it out of this financial jargon and makes it relatable and easy to understand and not so overwhelming.
00:10:25.310 --> 00:10:29.550 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: So you you started your financial services career at our lynch.
00:10:29.620 --> 00:10:30.480 Lauren Flanagan Russo: I did
00:10:30.810 --> 00:10:57.320 Lauren Flanagan Russo: slightly different, though in an international department, and then that got disbanded because I graduated in 2,002, you know 2,001. The world changed right? I I mean it's it's something that that resonates deeply with me, just because, you know, walking into my brother is a big wirehouse advisor. He works at Ubs right? So I've been in and out of Merrill Lynch Morgan Stanley Ups advisors advisory offices for years and a lot of them have
00:10:57.320 --> 00:11:04.780 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: have that same kind of feeling, and and some of it's very cold, maybe not as cold as it is out there this morning, but it just it feels cold right.
00:11:04.780 --> 00:11:24.200 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: and it feels like it's all about the Almighty dollar. But you know again, when you walk into the more like, you know, independent offices in general, you might be able to get a a different type of feeling, but I've been in and out of tons of independent offices, too, and I don't get the feeling that I get when I've walked into this energy office. It really is something special.
00:11:24.340 --> 00:11:37.140 Lauren Flanagan Russo: Thank you. Yeah. And i'll tell you that's kind of how his energy got it start. Ryan had worked on Wall Street and just felt like it was so soulless he wasn't really helping anybody. It was all about, you know, selling your mom under the bus for a nickel.
00:11:37.140 --> 00:11:51.410 Lauren Flanagan Russo: So he went back and got a Cfp. He wanted to get into personal finance and and really kind of change the way things were done. And he, you know, went through, got his mba, got a Cfp. And went to interview at the big houses right in Red Bank, and everything was about.
00:11:51.410 --> 00:12:05.280 Lauren Flanagan Russo: Well, how would you sell this? How would you sell that? And it just after going through the Cfp. Studies where they tell you like you've got to learn the client like You've got to learn about them, and then figure out what works best for them. Come up with a comprehensive plan.
00:12:05.510 --> 00:12:11.710 Lauren Flanagan Russo: He went back, and before he accepted any offers, you know, his wife actually said i'm like. Why, don't you just do it on your own.
00:12:11.710 --> 00:12:28.760 Lauren Flanagan Russo: and that's what we did, and people laughed at him back at that point like you're going to be feeling like. How are you going to make that work? And now, like I, I am so grateful that that's, you know, a a normal course of action. Now people are looking for cfps and for fee only advisors, and I think that's great for the industry.
00:12:28.870 --> 00:12:39.640 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: Yeah, I I would absolutely agree. And it's I would applaud him also for embracing that model, you know, somewhat early on like what like it's, it's definitely a lot more commonplace these days, but
00:12:39.640 --> 00:13:05.210 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: it definitely wasn't always like that, you know. Again 5 in Mamas County. Total. Right? Yeah, yeah, I'd say, and going back to your the videos that you have, which i'm going to put in the show notes and everything, and share a link to this video because I thought it was great. You have the a picture of the advisor that's purely talking about the money, and a really nervous looking couple on the other side of the table, and a bunch of brochures for a bunch of products right in front of them that they're trying to shove down your throat
00:13:05.210 --> 00:13:22.410 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: versus sitting and smiling in front of somebody who's kind of understands you. And it just yeah again, like you never felt so comfortable talking about my finances with a financial professional. That's the feeling that people want. That's the feeling that's energy gives. So I really love what you guys are doing and how you're doing it. Thank you.
00:13:22.510 --> 00:13:30.920 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: But we're going to talk more about it when we come back from this break with Lauren Russo, Senior Planner and Vice President with energy, retirement, planning, Stay with us.
00:13:34.150 --> 00:13:53.570 Are you a business owner. Do you want to be a business owner? Do you work with business owners? Hi! I'm Steven fry your small and medium-sized business, or Smb Guide and i'm the host of the new show always Friday. While I love to have fun on my show, we take those Friday feelings of freedom and clarity to discuss popular topics on the minds of Smbs today.
00:13:53.710 --> 00:13:59.920 Please join me and my various special guests on Friday at 11 am. On talk, radio and Nyc.
00:14:02.370 --> 00:14:32.660 Are you a conscious co-creator? Are you on a quest to raise your vibration and your consciousness I'm Sam Leibowitz, your conscious consultant, and on my show the conscious consultant hour awakening humanity, we will touch upon all these topics and more. Listen. Live at our new time on Thursdays, at 12 noon Eastern time that's the conscious consultant hour awakening humanity. Thursday's 12 noon on talk, Radio and Nyc.
00:14:37.900 --> 00:15:06.450 Are you on edge? Hey? We live in challenging edgy time. So let's lean in. I'm. Sander, Bargeman, the host of the edge of every day, which airs each Monday at 7 P. M. Eastern time on talk radio and Nyc. Tune in, Live with me and my friends and colleagues, as we share stories of perspectives about pushing boundaries and exploring our rough edges. That's the edge of every day on Mondays at 7 P. M. Easter. Time on talk, radio and Nyc.
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00:15:09.370 --> 00:15:17.220 you're listening to talk radio, Nyc: uplift, educate and power. the
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00:15:47.210 --> 00:16:01.680 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: Welcome back everybody. It's Friday. It's always Friday, and it's me. Stephen Fry, your Smb. Guy, not just me. We're chatting with Lauren Russo Senior Planner and Vice President at Z. Energy retirement planning cold morning here in the northeast
00:16:01.720 --> 00:16:16.130 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: before we get things kicked into high a gear. Here I figured we'd sit out by the fire pit for a moment and just talk a little perspective. You know this is a topic that's very near and dear to me. You've worked a lot with financial professionals a lot in the retirement space. There is a lot more
00:16:16.310 --> 00:16:25.910 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: to retirement and just hanging it up one day whether you are an individual employee working for somebody else, or you own your own business, especially if you own your own business.
00:16:25.930 --> 00:16:45.780 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: Smb. Owners that I've worked with. They They often look at their business as their retirement plan. They sell it. One day they hang it up, they're done. They live out their dreams, but businesses are still comprised of individual people who all have a lot of a lot of similarities, right? They all have to be aware of the same things. Social security and long term care and
00:16:45.780 --> 00:16:48.040 tax planning, and all this type of stuff.
00:16:48.120 --> 00:17:04.099 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: Everybody has to deal with it with the transitioning generation of workers. There's many many questions around retirement and retirement, especially things like social security, because some of the the rules of the road have changed around it in the last 10 years. So it's something that a lot of people don't even realise.
00:17:04.099 --> 00:17:21.920 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: But you know investment, strategy, tax planning, estate, planning, succession, planning. If you're a business owner, I always look at it as a miss when people only worry about staying alive to retire. You can't forget to live. The whole idea of enriching life that z energy kind of stands by.
00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:35.390 You can't forget about living right, and you can't forget that when you retire you're going to want to live even more, because you've been working for a while, you might might not have had as much time to live as you want. You want to go. Have more experiences right
00:17:35.390 --> 00:17:42.710 when you have a trusted advisor that can partner with you for many aspects of life, not just looking at what your investable assets are.
00:17:42.760 --> 00:18:02.730 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: It can go that much further to helping you live the life that you want. And I think that's an important part of what we're going to talk about today. So, Lauren, this is the method part of the show. This is where we talk about the science behind what you do, and with all the designations that you have in the space. I don't think we're going to teach anybody how to how to be everything that you guys do in one segment of a show.
00:18:02.730 --> 00:18:16.500 Lauren Flanagan Russo: But the idea here is we want to hear a little bit about exactly what you guys are doing, how you're doing it, and how you're going to market for it. So give us a little bit of insight.
00:18:16.500 --> 00:18:29.700 Lauren Flanagan Russo: We sit down with prospects, and we talk a lot about what their values are around money and what their goals are for retirement. You know what they enjoy doing all of that sort of stuff. And then, when we have our first meeting, we.
00:18:29.700 --> 00:18:46.420 Lauren Flanagan Russo: If they decide to move forward, we do a fact finding session which is incredibly comprehensive. We're really looking at everything. Employee benefits any insurance policies, whether it be property, casualty, or life insurance, disability, long term car, All that's very important.
00:18:46.420 --> 00:19:04.900 Lauren Flanagan Russo: We do social security analysis. We make recommendations on Medicare. We look at current investment portfolios to see, you know, diversification, and what kind of expenses they have. A lot of people think that they're not paying anything, because they don't see a fee coming out. But there's fees associated with almost everything you invest in.
00:19:05.040 --> 00:19:25.920 Lauren Flanagan Russo: So we look at all of that, and then we do a retirement coaching segment. So we have surveys. That really kind of try to drive down to You know what is most important to you when you retire. Is it connecting with family. Is it learning something new? Is it pursuing a hobby, or or you know, something like that? And then volunteering and giving back?
00:19:25.930 --> 00:19:44.070 Lauren Flanagan Russo: So all of this gets incorporated into the plan, and then we, you know, generally spit out a plan that's you know, maybe a 100 pages and outdated as soon as we. We present it, because everything changes constantly, which is why it's so important to work with someone on ongoing basis and get that ongoing planning.
00:19:44.570 --> 00:20:04.810 Lauren Flanagan Russo: So not only do you and the folks as energy through energy cares, which again, nonprofit organization, 501, C 3. Not only do you do your type of philanthropic work. But you know part of your model, and working with your clients is really getting them to realize what volunteering and philanthropic work they want to do. Sounds like
00:20:04.840 --> 00:20:19.400 Lauren Flanagan Russo: calls to them, you know. It's not for everybody, but we have another segment of our website that we rolled out recently is energy shares, and it's really setting up community links to different calendars that will help people find volunteer opportunities
00:20:19.400 --> 00:20:37.610 Lauren Flanagan Russo: with energy cares. We offer a couple of throughout the year that got a little bit difficult following the pandemic. So we used to have huge phones here opportunities. The New Jersey Marathon was a great one, and we'd be able to, you know, bring on anywhere from 30 to 100 volunteers that went away. So we're always looking for different things to partner with.
00:20:37.610 --> 00:20:53.270 Lauren Flanagan Russo: But also, if we can just get the word out, You know we always talk about fulfill with Aaron, and we try to connect our members to fulfill opportunities as well, because there's so much out there, and I think the biggest thing is, people are interested, and they don't know how to get started.
00:20:53.700 --> 00:21:11.200 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: Yeah, there's there's no question about that. So let's talk about getting started, because with with financial advice and financial planning and all that, it's it's a big stumbling block for a lot of people, and everybody is, you know, might be starting from a different place, too, and I know that's something that you and I have even kicked around like.
00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:22.870 you know, every look. Most advisors want somebody who's got a ton of money. It's like, how much? How much of your investable assets. It's always it's always underlying there somewhere. But wherever somebody is on their financial journey.
00:21:22.870 --> 00:21:49.500 Lauren Flanagan Russo: you guys have a a fairly like outlined process and plan for it, starting with level one, which is Kickstar, and and this is all clearly outlined on your website, which you know, going back to the transparency piece. I really like this. So talk to us a little bit about this, this, this kind of evolution of of really living an enriched life, eventually
00:21:49.500 --> 00:22:04.730 Lauren Flanagan Russo: achieve, maintain, and enjoy financial freedom. And and how can you do that? If someone comes to you, you know, just starting out or with debt, and you know you say, Well, you can't afford me, or you know you. You don't have enough money for us to manage well, you know, at some point they will right, and
00:22:04.740 --> 00:22:23.500 Lauren Flanagan Russo: how much better is it for everybody if we just jump right in and and help when they need it the most. So we have this progressive system, and and the goal is that we grow together, and that serves everyone really well. So we really have it set up where someone can come in with literally no assets and $40,000 in debt.
00:22:23.500 --> 00:22:27.890 Lauren Flanagan Russo: and we're gonna work with you, and it's a self-directed program. But you have coaches available.
00:22:27.890 --> 00:22:49.310 Lauren Flanagan Russo: and we're going to get you to the point where you do have investable assets, and then those investful assets are going to grow. And you know a lot of those people talk to their parents or their answer their uncles, and are like you wouldn't believe how much help we're getting, and then they're like, Well, maybe we should call them so. Everything has, you know, an a effect, and it all it all helps. But at the end of the day, like we're truly about helping people.
00:22:49.310 --> 00:22:52.440 Lauren Flanagan Russo: and you know, Ryan and I just don't believe you can do that
00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:54.660 Lauren Flanagan Russo: if you turn people away
00:22:54.700 --> 00:23:02.850 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: absolutely, and you know there is an evolution of there's 5 steps to this which you know I definitely want to go through with everybody but to your point.
00:23:02.850 --> 00:23:25.620 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: You know somebody can be starting out with nothing and have that. And sometimes overnight they'll have assets like. Listen, they might have. They might have an inheritance like I have. Yeah, I've seen plenty of examples of that, and dealing with the Smb world as well. I've seen a lot of advisors turn up their nose at you, for example, doing a start up 401 plan with somebody which I've I've never really understood. I've understood it from the perspective that
00:23:26.030 --> 00:23:38.510 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: yeah, there's no there's no assets in the plan yet. So you're not getting compensated, whether it's fees or commissions, and all of that, I understand that. But you're also the the the initial person that's speaking to a room of people
00:23:38.630 --> 00:23:56.040 Lauren Flanagan Russo: about saving for retirement which can lead into other topics of conversation around finance. So it's like, Why would you ever turn your nose up it? I've seen some of the best opportunities for personal wealth management come out of startup plans like that.
00:23:56.120 --> 00:24:01.220 Lauren Flanagan Russo: And then, 2 years later they come back to us with an inheritance, and they're at stage 5.
00:24:01.290 --> 00:24:19.750 Lauren Flanagan Russo: So you really just you never know. And I think if you set out with the right intention and and set out to help people. It pays dividends in whatever form. And you know we're all about the long AIM. We're we're retirement planners. So we're not looking at the short term we're looking at the long term we're looking at the long term when we invest, we're looking at the long term when we're setting up plans.
00:24:19.860 --> 00:24:22.100 Lauren Flanagan Russo: and it's served us really well. So far
00:24:22.100 --> 00:24:49.300 Lauren Flanagan Russo: most people want to educate their kids, pay their taxes and retire, and there's no doubt that most people would rather retire on their terms than be retired on someone else's terms, especially if that someone's the grim reaper. But let's not make it a morbid discussion. So level one kick, start level 2 hands on when you're starting to move through the process. So this get a little bit more, a little bit more interaction. It sounds like, instead of a self directed program, right? Because now we're managing money. So there's going to be a lot of touch points.
00:24:49.670 --> 00:25:09.360 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: right? Right? Right? Okay. So kick start hands on. Then we have Taylor made, which I always like this term, especially when you're talking about, you know, financial planning and and really working with individuals. Because if you, if you're talking to somebody that's a product based, you know, type of Advisor, where it's by this annuity. By this fund, whatever it is.
00:25:09.450 --> 00:25:17.620 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: it tends to feel like you're buying a suit off the rack as opposed to having something custom tailored for you. That's always how this type it how this it's me.
00:25:17.770 --> 00:25:34.880 Lauren Flanagan Russo: Yeah. And i'll tell you like one of the things I love is that we don't sell products. So if I make a recommendation, someone at the tailor made level, you know we're just starting to do financial planning, we're doing a plan every other year, and I might make a recommendation that you need life insurance, and they can take that recommendation and say like.
00:25:34.880 --> 00:25:51.110 Lauren Flanagan Russo: Well, I must really need it, because Lauren Doesn't benefit from telling me to get it right. I don't get a commission. I don't like place it. We don't accept, you know, referral rewards or anything like that. So they know that i'm making that recommendation, because I believe it's in their best interest.
00:25:51.200 --> 00:26:07.750 Lauren Flanagan Russo: And then you know what they do with that is is up to them. But it's it's just a really cool way of doing it, and really just eliminating conflict of interest as much as possible. Because we are fiduciary. We are obligated to put people first, you know, put the interest of our clients ahead of our own.
00:26:07.750 --> 00:26:26.560 Lauren Flanagan Russo: and that really spoke to me. My family motto, growing up is, do the right thing because it's the right thing to do. And you know, Ryan, love, that I love. I love that as well, and it's like, you know. Be having a people first. Mentality comes right along with being in appropriate fiduciary. I've always loved the fiduciary process, and
00:26:26.560 --> 00:26:37.040 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: it's I didn't necessarily realize when I first started learning about it, that it was because I I i'm a people person, and I like you know people before anything else. But that's that's really how it is.
00:26:37.060 --> 00:26:58.730 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: So so we go from kickstart hands on tailor-made to level 4 home stretch, and I know you love this part because this is where people definitely need some help getting to the enriched part of life. But talk to us about the home stretch. Yeah. So with the home stretch you're getting that planning every year, because now you know, everything that we do is is leading up to that retirement.
00:26:58.730 --> 00:27:23.670 Lauren Flanagan Russo: But we also really, in our retirement enrichment program, which is, you know, the fun side of things for me. You know, i'm definitely a numbers person. I love the financial planning, but I love the creative side, too, and this is where we have a grant program, so we help our retirees or near to retirement. Members, you know, learn a new skill, or you know, someone may say, oh, i'm gonna go to France next year, and and they can get French lessons and a charged energy for that.
00:27:23.680 --> 00:27:31.660 Lauren Flanagan Russo: On top of that we give away a trip every year, which is one of my most favorite moments of the year we have a big dinner, and we announced the winner of the trip.
00:27:31.660 --> 00:27:47.030 Lauren Flanagan Russo: So this this last year it was one of my members, and they're going to Iceland. And so, you know, I think September, October, and that is just like so fun. And then we have our retirement coaching program, and then synergy care is a big part of that, too. It's.
00:27:47.030 --> 00:28:02.050 Lauren Flanagan Russo: you know, not only allowing us to get back to the communities that you know we really feel like we have to give back. We're we're so lucky, so fortunate. But it also gives our members, and you know, friends of energy, the opportunity to give back. And I love that connection.
00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:17.670 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: Yeah, and you have scholarships through there, too, don't you? Yes, yeah. Oh, my gosh, I almost forgot. My kids are not quite college age, but mine either, but I can't forget that I need every dollar I can get. You know I have. I have 2 daughters so, and you have 6 kids. So you need. Yeah.
00:28:17.770 --> 00:28:34.350 Lauren Flanagan Russo: But yeah, we give out a scholarship to what we call the synergy family, and then the energy community. So this energy family is going to be anyone related to. You know our members, whether it be their grandchildren or their children. And then the energy community is anyone in mom of county
00:28:35.130 --> 00:28:51.220 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: awesome? So home stretch leads into Level 5, which is the enriched life, and this this looks like where it's the most robust type of package with the organization. But again, like there's everything is very on purpose with purpose. I love it.
00:28:51.220 --> 00:29:14.590 Lauren Flanagan Russo: but anybody at any stage of the process. But talk to us about the enriched life. When we've when we've reached Utopia it looks like
00:29:14.590 --> 00:29:29.730 Lauren Flanagan Russo: this is when you become more vulnerable to identity, theft and and attacks, and then we work with an accountant to get your taxes done, and we pay for that, and then we work with and see if putting attorney and get your State planning documents in order and then update them, because.
00:29:29.730 --> 00:29:47.670 Lauren Flanagan Russo: you know, we know that life changes all the time. So if hipaa laws change, or something significant happens within your family. You probably need an update, and we don't want cost or just procrastination to be a reason to put that off. So we own the process, and and, you know, guide our members through it.
00:29:47.670 --> 00:30:01.400 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: I I think that's so valuable because a lot of especially dealing with the State planning and tax planning. It's like you think, getting people to open up about financial needs and financial services and stuff lump in all the rest of that with everything, and it's
00:30:01.400 --> 00:30:20.460 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: especially if the the couple aren't talking to each other. Then you can have some, some missteps, too, so the fact that that's part of the thinking and part of the process and part of the endgame to really leading the enriched life is like. Look a lot of times. I'm. Taking administrative burden off of Smb's plates and companies plates so that they can focus on
00:30:20.460 --> 00:30:33.950 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: the reason they went into business. For the first place. I love this type of concept for the individual, you know, being able to take the the burden, this still administrative burden for them off of their plate so that they could focus on life.
00:30:34.050 --> 00:30:45.200 Lauren Flanagan Russo: Yeah, and we have a lot of guys who were, you know, financial people, and they're like, you know, debating whether to manage the money on their own and things like that. And then at the end of the day they they're like well, I can.
00:30:45.460 --> 00:31:05.130 Lauren Flanagan Russo: but I don't want to, and that's the thing right like you want to find things that you enjoy. And but do you want to be taking a 2 month vacation be like? Well, I have to rebalance my portfolio, you know you can be as involved as you want when you're working with us, and you know we encourage people to to stay Aware, you know we don't think it's great to bury your head in the sand.
00:31:05.130 --> 00:31:15.760 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: but also to have someone be doing the heavy lifting for you, I think, is invaluable. I like a real simple analogy there. I've been watching the barber cut my hair for the last. I don't know 42 years or so.
00:31:15.760 --> 00:31:38.070 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: But doesn't mean, I think i'm gonna try it myself. It's probably not gonna work out the right way. But there's always there's always a little bit of that. There's a lot of value in having somebody who's not you looking in on the situation. Even if you work in the same field. There's no doubt about that. We gotta take a quick break, but we will be right back with Lauren Russo, senior planner and Vice President with z energy, retirement planning. Stay with us.
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00:32:08.820 --> 00:32:36.830 www.TalkRadio.nyc: In that post to movement world. You may have many unanswered questions regarding your health. Are you looking to live a healthier lifestyle? Do you have a desire to learn more about mental health, and enhance your quality of life? Or do you just want to participate in self-understanding and awareness. I'm Frank R. Harrison, host of Frank, about health and each Thursday. I will tackle these questions and work to enlighten you tune in every Thursday 5 P. M. On talk radio and Nyc. And I will be frank about help to advocate for all of us.
00:32:42.090 --> 00:33:06.200 Hey, everybody! It's Tommy. Gee, the non-profit sector connector coming at you from my attic each week here on talk radio and Nyc: I hosted program for lambda game focus nonprofits in cockroach each and every day, and it's my focus to help them amplify their message and tell their story. Listen each week at 10 a. M. Eastern Standard time until 11. A. M. Is your standard time right here on talk radio, Dot: Nyc.
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00:33:41.670 --> 00:33:52.850 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: welcome back to always Friday with me, Stephen Fry, your Smb Guy, we're chatting with Lauren Russo Senior Planner and Vice President with Z. Energy retirement, planning some great stuff from Lauren here today
00:33:52.850 --> 00:34:13.090 and hearing Tommy D's commercial for philanthropy and focus. I can't help but think of z energy cares which we're also talking about 501, C 3 nonprofit organization, big supporter of many causes here in the community. Here's a quick list of them up on the green screen. But Steam Park
00:34:13.090 --> 00:34:28.310 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: was the event that we were at last night where me and Lauren's husband, Jay lost all of our money at the charity poker table, which is nothing new for me, usually, especially when it's for charity. I got kind of cowboyish, but great time great cause great way to raise some money. Education for children.
00:34:28.310 --> 00:34:50.710 There's a lot of fun stories that we have from these types of events, and a lot of fun stories that Lauren has in general from the field. So this is where we get to talk about them, Lauren. This is the madness part of the show, the artistic observational part of what you do. No subject is too taboo. Anything goes, and I know better than a lot of folks that financial services in general
00:34:50.710 --> 00:35:06.990 has a lot of madness around it, especially when you're dealing with clients money. But it doesn't have to all be like crazy, crazy madness. I'm actually gonna to kick this off with something that I found on on this energy website that I thought was really cool, and it has alliteration involved with it. And you know how much I love that
00:35:07.130 --> 00:35:21.810 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: this is called the Happiness hierarchy. When I feel like nobody's happy with their money and their investments and everything. This is kind of a real, simple methodology to to look at life right, and it goes pleasure, passion, purpose.
00:35:21.810 --> 00:35:40.690 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: and connection, and it has a little footnote here, too, that a lot of people need help finding their purpose, and really looking at their goals and looking at their vision. It has steps to finding your purpose, too, it says, relax, think, act, and connect, and probably the biggest madness thing that sticks out in my mind with this is that
00:35:40.790 --> 00:35:54.390 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: a lot of people have trouble with this, especially as it relates to their finances, and everything is always the panic button. But enough of hearing me blabber on about it. Let's hear from Lauren. We want to hear some stories from the field. Give some of the madness that you see.
00:35:54.390 --> 00:36:10.540 Lauren Flanagan Russo: Yeah, I mean, I think you know what happens so often with people is that they think forever about retiring from retiring from my job. I can't wait to retire. When am I going to retire? Can I retire? And they don't think about that next step it which is, what are you going to retire to.
00:36:10.600 --> 00:36:24.640 Lauren Flanagan Russo: And I had this this client, the he was, you know, 85 years old, and this guy was like the dream right he was going to Broadway shows he was like the mayor of his community. Everybody loved Henry J.
00:36:24.640 --> 00:36:31.860 Lauren Flanagan Russo: And you know, I said to him, Henry, what's the secret, you know. And he said, Well, Lauren, you rest, you rust.
00:36:31.910 --> 00:36:43.600 Lauren Flanagan Russo: and this was probably in 2,005, and it just has stuck with me. It's so important that you really give a lot of thought before you retire to what you're going to retire to.
00:36:44.470 --> 00:36:52.720 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: Yeah, it's it's something that always resonates with me. It's like a it's like, you know, old Alice in Wonderland type of thought. If you don't know where you're going, any road will do.
00:36:52.720 --> 00:37:13.020 Lauren Flanagan Russo: Yeah, absolutely. And I think it's one of the biggest things that we see people struggling with Early on, you know. First of all, when you're married and you both retire around the same time it's another big adjustment. It's kind of like after the honeymoon, you know. Now you've been used to your routines, and maybe one person was used to being in the house, and the other was used to being out.
00:37:13.020 --> 00:37:41.020 Lauren Flanagan Russo: So you have that adjustment, too, and and you know, what are you gonna do with your time. And are you gonna have time apart? You know that's generally important. But having some shared interest, too, is is incredibly helpful, and our job is to work with, you know couples, and and also with people who are on their own and and help them figure out what's important to them. You know we're not going to tell you. You should go take a a French class or a cooking class. Now, that's not going to be right for everyone. We're going to help you find what what is bright.
00:37:41.510 --> 00:38:00.760 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: We go skydiving when you're 85. It might not be the best, I mean, not. Some people want to do that, and i'm all for it. But I did it when I was 23. I'm about to be 43. I don't know if I could do it again. But we did a hot air balloon ride with our members, and that was awesome. So we definitely have some people who are pretty adventurous. But again. It's all about the right fit.
00:38:01.470 --> 00:38:16.030 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: Yeah, without a doubt. So you know the fact that it again like starting out from where you were personally and like places like the Merrill Lynch world. Right? I mean, you know some of my dealings with them along the way, especially years ago, Less so nowadays. But years ago
00:38:16.160 --> 00:38:26.600 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: a lot of things would be very product-centric, right like be like this. This is what you have to use. Yeah, if you're but building a menu for somebody. It has to have 2 to one ratio of these funds, and blah blah blah like.
00:38:26.710 --> 00:38:27.460 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: But
00:38:27.530 --> 00:38:40.700 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: nowadays like especially being independent, it's it's really so much more about getting to know the people and designing the plan around them. The products, as I say, at the beginning of every show they are going to change along the way.
00:38:41.010 --> 00:38:41.680 Lauren Flanagan Russo: Yeah.
00:38:42.300 --> 00:38:49.680 Lauren Flanagan Russo: Yeah, we really don't focus much on the products at all. You know it's really about just how do we help you
00:38:49.700 --> 00:39:06.430 Lauren Flanagan Russo: reach your goals, and how do we help you maintain your standard of living during a time like this? Right? So that's all stuff that we're really stress testing before we ever give anyone the green flag to retire. We want to make sure that when you retire you are not worrying about
00:39:06.430 --> 00:39:20.550 Lauren Flanagan Russo: market volatility and thinking Well, no, i'm not going to go grocery shopping. I'm not guilty, my vacation this year like that's nonsense. If you do the plan right like you should not have to change your life at all when you retire, just because the market's not doing well.
00:39:20.680 --> 00:39:28.980 Lauren Flanagan Russo: But that also means, you know we have people who call us and say, Well, you know the market was up 19 this year that you know we did great. I i'm gonna take a higher distribution. We're like
00:39:29.230 --> 00:39:43.070 Lauren Flanagan Russo: well, slightly higher right now, but we don't want you to do that. We want you to save that money for the rainy day, and then, when we have a market decline, you're not calling us, saying, do I need to cut expenses? You don't
00:39:43.590 --> 00:39:55.930 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: right right, and that and that all comes with with planning right? And what what has driven another thing that's kind of driven me crazy over the last handful of years, and it's maybe it's something you can relate to as well the whole concept of
00:39:55.930 --> 00:40:18.980 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: the Robo Advisor types of platforms. Right? Which was, yeah, it's. I see your reaction immediately, right? And it's you're not even hearing about them as much these days as you were like 5 5 plus years ago, right and I I I think that's a that's a telling sign of of a lot of things right when you when you deal with the Robo-advisor world again takes the human element out of it, and it's purely about about numbers and all of that, and it's
00:40:19.010 --> 00:40:20.910 it's it's also
00:40:21.190 --> 00:40:35.530 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: about the accumulation side of things. Usually it's like accumulating money. Well, when you get closer to retirement. The home stretch, if you will like, with what you guys do there. There is a little bit of discussion about. Where am I spending the money from first.
00:40:35.530 --> 00:40:44.140 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: Right? Exactly. It's like. So you're going back to some of the things, if you whether you're a business owner or not, you work for somebody else
00:40:44.350 --> 00:41:05.970 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: You everybody has to deal with like figure out social security strategies. Everybody has to figure out how they're gonna pay their health expenses when they're in retirement, and they might not be able to to to to work anymore. It's like, you know, electing Medicare at at 65, when you're eligible for it, or does it make sense? Does it not make sense depending on? If you're still working or not? Like all of all of these things
00:41:05.970 --> 00:41:16.180 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: are big topics of conversation that I feel like people take lightly. Am I wrong there? No. And you know what happens so much like people come and say like, Well, how much money
00:41:16.180 --> 00:41:35.600 Lauren Flanagan Russo: do I need to retire? And i'm like Well, I I have no idea. I will not know that until I understand how much money you spend and what you were making in retirement. There's no magic number. Everything comes down to lifestyle, right? I have people who could retire very easily on a $250,000 portfolio.
00:41:35.610 --> 00:41:46.200 Lauren Flanagan Russo: and I have people who will need 3 million dollars to you know, support their standard of living. So it really depends on on what you do in your day to day life.
00:41:47.180 --> 00:42:01.330 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: It it depends on what makes you makes you happy as well, and it's like I, while i'm somebody who likes to go out and have a good time. I do believe that your health comes first right. and then happiness right? So going back to the happiness hierarchy for a second.
00:42:01.490 --> 00:42:10.950 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: you know what makes you happy. Might not make me happy right? Everybody's different that way. but it's like you have your health. First you focus on what makes you happy next.
00:42:10.980 --> 00:42:23.530 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: Then I like to think of it as piece after that inner piece as well as peace out outward. You know i'm not going to go. Peace on earth, Miss America, but you know the pageant whatever. But then, after that comes wealth.
00:42:23.660 --> 00:42:27.300 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: Yeah, right? Because if you don't have those first 3 things.
00:42:27.790 --> 00:42:47.750 Lauren Flanagan Russo: the wolf doesn't really matter all of that much. Doesn't it? Well, that's what they say. Right health is your great as well, and we actually do have an app for that, too. We have a zoom there's not for that. But we do. We think that's so important in retirement? You know it's not worth much if you're not able to enjoy, and if you're not alive
00:42:47.750 --> 00:42:56.650 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: right, right. Every like, you know. Health buys you time, and time is up some very often a bigger asset than money, and that's just the fact of the matter
00:42:57.100 --> 00:43:06.090 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: absolutely. So we're going to take a quick break. But we will be right back with Lauren Russo, Senior planner and Vice President, with his energy retirement, planning. Stay with us. Everyone.
00:43:09.040 --> 00:43:33.130 Hey, everybody! It's Tommy Deed a nonprofit sector connector coming at you from my attic each week here on top radio and Nyc: I hosted program for the land, but game focus nonprofits in cocktails each and every day, and it's my focus to help them amplify their message and tell their story. Listen: each week at 10 a. M. Eastern standard time until 11. A. M. Is from standing time right here on talk Radio dot nyc
00:43:33.980 --> 00:44:01.760 www.TalkRadio.nyc: in a post- movement world. You may have many unanswered questions regarding your health. Are you looking to live a healthier lifestyle? Do you have a desire to learn more about mental health, and enhance your quality of life, or do you just want to participate in self-understanding and awareness? I'm. Frank R. Harrison, host of Frank about health, and each Thursday I will tackle these questions and work to enlighten you. Tune in every 3, 5 P. M. On talk radio and Nyc. And I will be frank about help to advocate for all of us.
00:44:05.280 --> 00:44:35.590 Are you a conscious co-creator? Are you on a quest to raise your vibration and your consciousness armed Sam Libra, your conscious consultant. and on my show, the conscious consultant hour awakening humanity, we will touch upon all these topics and more. Listen. Live at our new time on Thursdays at 12 noon Eastern time. That's the conscious consultant hour. Awakening humanity Thursday's 12 noon on talk Radio Nyc.
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00:45:13.070 --> 00:45:28.170 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: Welcome back to always Friday with me, Stephen Fry or Smb Guy. We are chatting with Lauren Russo, Senior Planner and Vice President with Z. Energy retirement, planning some great pearls of wisdom from Lauren here today before we kick into the weekend.
00:45:28.170 --> 00:45:56.220 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: These energy website, by the way, everybody has a lot of great articles, blogs all kinds of great content on it. Had a whole bunch of stuff here saved today that I was. I was taking a look at some of it, just getting your financial house in order, which is something that's important for individuals and for the businesses that I work with. If you can't do it for yourself, it's hard to do it for your business. So get everything in order. How much money should people put into 400 oneks? I always say, whatever you're comfortable with Don't. Feel pressure to Max out. But
00:45:56.220 --> 00:46:14.500 www.TalkRadio.nyc: good spot to put some money also for people, especially nowadays, with all these startup companies that are out and about equity compensation, and how to navigate; that these can be some very, very complex topics that people need to deal with. So again, Don't feel the need to become a complete expert. All on your own have somebody who's in your corner.
00:46:14.500 --> 00:46:29.430 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: and that person can be Lauren and the team from zenergy folks who are focused on the community, not just on how many investable assets you have. They work with zinnerergy cares, the 501, c. 3 here, all kinds of pictures of them around town, doing philanthropic work 150,
00:46:29.430 --> 00:46:48.990 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: but plenty of messages that that we can give you here today from Lauren and from this energy team, Lauren, this is the message part of the show from weekend insight, the Monday impact. That's the name of the game. Even pursuant to the hierarchy that you guys have for happiness. I love the idea of helping folks find their purpose right, because not everybody. Necessarily.
00:46:48.990 --> 00:46:59.660 It has a clear thought about that, especially the Smbs that I work with. They'll look at it as what the vision statement is, and really their mantra. But you know, really it's like you said before
00:46:59.660 --> 00:47:12.410 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: don't work just to retire. It's like, Figure out what your life is gonna look like then, like what you really want to do. But you know enough enough of my babble like, let's hear from you what kind of sound bites do you want to drop on everyone before the weekend starts here?
00:47:12.770 --> 00:47:19.770 Lauren Flanagan Russo: Yeah. So I mean the big one would be to retire to something right, and we talked a little bit about the hierarchy, and I wanted to just share an example.
00:47:19.770 --> 00:47:35.680 Lauren Flanagan Russo: You know I have someone who I work with who loves dogs right? So you know they give her great pleasure. But helping animals is definitely a passion of hers, and travel is a passion of her. So she is retiring in June, and she has a trip set up this summer
00:47:35.680 --> 00:47:54.680 Lauren Flanagan Russo: to go to Europe and volunteer with rescue foundations in Europe. So to explore, you know, really touch upon passion, purpose, pleasure, and even connection. And it's just a creative way to do it. And you know, very easy on the budget, too.
00:47:54.680 --> 00:48:01.730 Lauren Flanagan Russo: which is really just awesome. And I love to see that kind of creativity, you know, as people are getting close to retirement.
00:48:02.200 --> 00:48:09.530 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: Yeah, absolutely. And I love to see the creativity of putting some of these messages in cartoons. It's just that I can't stop. I love it.
00:48:09.710 --> 00:48:19.800 but it's not. Nothing impacted me more than seeing this guy versus this guy as far as the the the advisor that just wants the investable assets versus the one that cares about you as a person. But
00:48:19.800 --> 00:48:44.240 you know again, like just from from your travels and experience, because you've seen it from a couple of different angles at this point, like you know, Merrill Lynch, big wirehouse like there's, you know, a certain discussion that comes with working with that, and it's not a right or wrong discussion or decision, really, but it's just what fits you and suits you. And I know for a fact that there's a lot of people out there that will get intimidated walking into a Merrill office or working walking into my brother's office at Ups.
00:48:44.240 --> 00:48:59.460 Lauren Flanagan Russo: But there's there is a fit for folks out there that have those types of feelings
00:48:59.460 --> 00:49:16.050 Lauren Flanagan Russo: and then interview many, you know. Make sure that you feel like you can trust this person that you don't feel nervous around them, that you feel like they're answering your question without kind of sending to you, and that they're open to you, answering a question, you know, to answering your question. And i'm learning about you.
00:49:16.050 --> 00:49:30.840 Lauren Flanagan Russo: That's all really important. You know that they're fiduciary a. Cfp. I think it's very important, too. But you know, even for someone who's not quite ready to talk to a planner, although you know, like you said in a in our world, you know we really will talk to anyone
00:49:30.860 --> 00:49:38.230 Lauren Flanagan Russo: but you said about the 401, and I would say, the only caveat to that is at least contribute as much as
00:49:38.230 --> 00:50:01.870 Lauren Flanagan Russo: is being matched. You know that money on the table. I I still can't believe somebody who's dealt with K. Is a great deal over the years. I I still can't believe how many people don't don't participate when when their employer is offering a contribution like that, right? Right? And you know people don't know like they they see. Well, it's 6% on my pay, and i'm struggling to make ends meet. But it ends up being less than that because of the tax benefits right?
00:50:01.870 --> 00:50:16.870 Lauren Flanagan Russo: And there's ways to find. And and you know, mindful spending, I think that's another huge one. You know. I read the compounding effect recently, and loved it, and was listening to them. Talk about the latte, and I was guilty of the Starbucks latte right?
00:50:16.870 --> 00:50:28.330 Lauren Flanagan Russo: It got up to like $7 this fall, and i'm like who I am. I am a financial planner, telling people to to spend mindfully, and i'm like. Well, I can afford a $7 lot. Say, Well, I can, you know, maybe once a month.
00:50:28.330 --> 00:50:58.330 Lauren Flanagan Russo: But you do that over the course of 30 days, a month, and then 12 months a year. And now you're looking at $70,000 down the road that you spent on coffee that you could have invested and earned, you know, an average of 8% on over time. Those those those examples are always very impactful to people. I I always see that. But you know you're right. You want to use examples just like that. That are story based that fit people's lives. It's the you know, advisors that will talk about sharp ratios and beta coefficients to be
00:50:58.330 --> 00:51:14.160 who have no idea about finance, and that's when people feel like, hey? I I I feel stupid. I like, and that's it. It ends up driving like, even if the people engage that professional which sometimes happens it's like, oh, he's! He must be smarter than me. I want him, you know he, he or she managing my money.
00:51:14.360 --> 00:51:43.310 Lauren Flanagan Russo: It's it's something that there will always be a strained relationship there, because it's not about the person. First. It's about. It's about the knowledge almost first. Yeah. And that that goes back to the connection. You know, when we're meeting with someone and presenting a plan there. There is going to be parts that get a little higher level right? And being able to read the room and see like. Are they starting to glaze over? Do we need to put this in different terms that you know, instead of talking about inflation and the impact of the increase, you know, saying, Well.
00:51:43.310 --> 00:51:59.640 Lauren Flanagan Russo: you know your gas. How much did you pay for gas? How much did you pay for your home? How much did you pay for in property taxes when you bought the house 30 years ago. What are you paying now? So we know that's a problem, right? That's gonna continue to be something that we need to worry about as you retire, and and maybe have income that's not going to be inflation adjusted.
00:51:59.640 --> 00:52:07.000 Lauren Flanagan Russo: We want to make sure that you're protected there, and and you know, being able to read people and connect with them that way really really helps with that.
00:52:07.260 --> 00:52:27.080 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: There's no question about it. We're gonna have contact information for Lauren directly in the show notes. There's a bunch of different numbers for Z energy out there booking free consultations you could mention that you heard about energy on the always Friday radio show. I'm sure there's nothing wrong with that as far as booking appointments. There. There's a couple of different numbers. We're gonna have them all listed in the show notes
00:52:27.080 --> 00:52:50.190 before I let you go for the day, Lauren, I love that you talked about retirement coaching, and there's well, this picture on your on your website. It leads almost directly into the questions that I asked you around movies TV and music. So I always ask everybody who's your favorite movie or TV show character. What's your favorite movie or TV show? And what's your favorite musical instrument. And who's the artist? You'd like to hear play it.
00:52:50.190 --> 00:53:00.560 So I know you have a decent sized band together with you with this energy cares, folks and all the all the stuff that you guys do. But retirement coaching kept hitting me every every time I saw the picture on your site. Because
00:53:00.560 --> 00:53:24.060 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: you said. One of your favorite TV show characters is Ted Lasso. Everyone's everyone's favorite football coach these days. I make a very handsome tablas, though absolutely there's there's so many good leadership lessons learned from Ted Lasso. I've seen a whole bunch of papers and and and observation about it. I I hear in some of the meetings that i'm in be a goldfish, and I just laugh at it. I think it's funny.
00:53:24.060 --> 00:53:46.560 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: But but yeah, there's there's great great stuff coming out of that show, as of late I haven't a dove into it completely yet. But I you know. So the so on the first couple of episodes, and I I I dig it, and I got. I got to make some time, for it's just it's just it's just part of the game. But, girl, listen! That's a all part of the game. You you also said one of your favorite characters was Claire from Outlander.
00:53:46.560 --> 00:53:52.580 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: So yeah, and you and you mentioned Outlander is one of your favorite TV shows, not because you like time travel.
00:53:52.580 --> 00:54:11.560 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: at which I personally do. I always big back to the future guy quantum leap all that type of stuff into it. But what what draws you to outlander? I I I guess the heavy romance is that what's in there? I mean, I am in a love story. I'm not gonna lie. But really, I think to me anything that you know takes a woman who's dealing with a lot of adversity, and just keeps
00:54:11.560 --> 00:54:27.970 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: pushing through and survives and does it with grace that appeals to me. Those those kind of stories appeal to me, and you know I have to tie that in real quick to the the woman's history month. I know you said that was one of the reasons for getting me on today, and I was about to do that. So thank you, for
00:54:27.970 --> 00:54:47.340 Lauren Flanagan Russo: you know one of my really big concerns right now is woman with retirement planning. I think something like 19% of women feel like they'll be ready to retire one day, and 50% of women feel like they're behind in the retirement savings. So I think that's kind of an important touch point today of all these.
00:54:47.490 --> 00:55:07.720 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: Yeah, absolutely. What a wonderful way to cap off Women's history month, especially looking at a woman who travels through history. That's that's a good good sentiment as far as music and and artists go. You said you like the piano played by Billy Joel, Probably one of the more common answers here, and one that hits home near and dear to me, because the first concert I ever saw was Billy Joel Elton, John
00:55:07.720 --> 00:55:23.360 Lauren Flanagan Russo: and I was. I was a music guy way before that, but that was a wonderful way to enter the music scene and go out and start seeing the multitude of shows that I did on the road, Lauren, a pleasure to have you on the show here today. Thank you for joining me. What a great way to cap off Women's history month!
00:55:23.360 --> 00:55:34.010 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: Absolutely coming up next week. We are going to have another lady friend of mine, Darcy, with one hope wine. Have you ever heard of drinking wine for charity?
00:55:34.100 --> 00:55:52.260 Steven Frey @alwaysfreyday @smbguy: Well, we're going to hear all about it next week. What a great concept. I know there's going to be some interested people in that. Until then. Thank you for joining us here on always. Friday. We hope you gain some weekend insight to make a Monday impact. Have a great weekend. We will see you next Friday, 11 a. M. Eastern time, right here on talk radio and M. IC. Bye, everyone.
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