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LIFETIME FINANCIAL GROWTH AND AFFILIATES COMMITS TO DONATE 1,000,000 MEALS TO LOCAL FOODBANKS
A group of local wealth advisors, their teams and business partners have rallied together to raise over $100,000 for local foodbanks to support Feeding America the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization. Lifetime...
Read MoreCoverage for Your WHOLE Life
Many individuals begin their financial plans with term life insurance because It’s simple to understand, while also being affordable and predictable. However, once your term is up, so is your coverage. Fortunately, there is a way...
Read MoreDon’t Be a Test Pilot
Don’t Be a Test Pilot LFG Marketing | October 2019 To “push the envelope” means testing limits and trying out new, often radical ideas. The phrase has its origins in mathematics and engineering, where the...
Read MoreThe Unfortunate Phenomenon of Gray Divorce
The Unfortunate Phenomenon of Gray Divorce LFG Marketing | October 2019 Life can have a Whack-a-Mole quality: No sooner is one problem smacked down, but another one pops up. Sometimes, what pops up is a real surprise. For instance:...
Read MoreThe After-50 Entrepreneur
The After-50 Entrepreneur LFG Marketing | October 2019 From the headline-grabbing business stories, you might conclude that entrepreneurial success in the United States is spearheaded by under-30 tech geeks who develop new apps using...
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Finding a T-Shirt That Fits
Finding a T-Shirt That Fits LFG Marketing | October 2019 There’s a T-shirt theme that begins “I Can’t…” followed by an explanation. I can’t… I have dance. I can’t… I have a tee...
Read MoreTax-Deferred Income is an Advantage to Whole Life Insurance
Whole life insurance can provide you with multiple benefits, far beyond the death benefit. One of the incentives is the ability to receive tax-deferred payments. The accumulated cash value in a whole life policy grows tax-deferred 1....
Read MorePlanning Today for a Blissful Retirement
Understanding the value of whole life insurance can help you plan for a financially secure retirement. The protection and wealth-enhancing benefits of whole life insurance make it one of the most comprehensive financial tools available...
Read MoreSaving for Higher Education with Whole Life Insurance
College costs are constantly rising and it’s only getting tougher to save for it. So, paying for your child or grandchild’s college education tomorrow requires planning today. A whole life policy is a great way to save for...
Read MorePut Your Child on the Road to a Stronger Financial Future Today
As a parent, you’re constantly worrying about your child’s protection because caring for them is your top priority. When they’re young, you want to make sure they’re always fed, bathed, and happy. When they grow...
Read MoreMember Spotlight: Lifetime Financial Growth
Member Spotlight: Lifetime Financial Growth Member Spotlight by Tom Wyatt, JD, CFP®, President of Lifetime Financial Growth of Central Ohio Provide us with a brief summary of your business’ services. The focus of Lifetime...
Read MoreFOMO & FOL...The Same but Different
FOMO & FOL...The Same but Different LFG Marketing | August 2019 Jack, he sits back, collects his thoughts for a moment, Scratches his head, and does his best James Dean, “Well, now then, there, Diane, we ought to run off to the...
Read MoreHow You Doin? (A Self-Assessment)
How You Doin? (A Self-Assessment) LFG Marketing | August 2019 What is your financial condition? Are you where you should be? How do you know? You might not hear those questions audibly, but every day, in some fashion, those thoughts...
Read MoreDon’t Blame the Coffee!
Don’t Blame the Coffee! LFG Marketing |August 2019 You see them in half-hour informercials, as guests on the business or news channels, and in the self-help aisle of your local bookstore. They are what might be called...
Read More8000 Days: Imagine the Possibilities!
8000 Days: Imagine the Possibilities! LFG Marketing | August 2019 When we read or hear the word “millionaire,” we have been conditioned to think of someone who is ultra-wealthy, a big financial success. But being a...
Read MoreGuardian Congratulates its 2019 GAMA Award Recipients!
Guardian Congratulates its 2019 GAMA Award Recipients! Guardian congratulates its leaders for their dedication and professionalism, both to their clients Guardian and the industry. We are proud of their accomplishments, and commitment...
Read MoreLeader to Leader-The Case for Specialization
The Case for Specialization Lifetime Financial Growth’s Earl J. Luttner explains how he has built his business on a unique abilities model, with time-tested success Frontline leader roles are changing. How has the concept of...
Read MoreThe Duty of Every American: Archiving Tax Records
The Duty of Every American: Archiving Tax Records LFG Marketing | July 2019 Once a year, every American household is required to prepare a detailed financial report, documenting income and expenses, and declaring their profit or loss....
Read MoreINSIGHT: HIGH INCOME ≠ FINANCIAL SAVVY
INSIGHT: HIGH INCOME ≠ FINANCIAL SAVVY LFG Marketing | July 2019 Most of us don’t respond well to scolding. There’s something about a condescending attitude connected to a wagging finger that just rubs us the wrong way....
Read MoreDynamic Principles for a Good Year
Dynamic Principles for a Good Year LFG Marketing | July 2019 An April 17, 2019, commentary in the Wall Street Journal featured a 2015 study from sociologists at Cornell and Washington University in St. Louis that sifted 44 years of...
Read MorePlaying Moneyball with Life Insurance
Playing Moneyball with Life Insurance LFG Marketing | July 2019 Uncovering hidden value can give you a competitive edge. This was the message in Michael Lewis’ 2003 best-seller, “Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game...
Read MoreLuttner Financial Group Presents: Ed Slott Live!
Ed Slott, renowned author, financial specialist, and IRA advisor spoke at the Pittsburgh Airport Marriott on May 21st at 7 p.m. The private event was hosted by Luttner Financial Group, which welcomed over 150 clients and their advisors...
Read MoreHow Life Insurance Could Extend Your Life
LFG Marketing | June 2019 Dana Goodman and Darius Lakdawalla are the founders of Precision Health Economics, a company that “produces advanced health economics research.” One aspect of their research is quantifying the...
Read MoreReality Check: The Delusion of an Athletic Scholarship
LFG Marketing | June 2019 Have you noticed that some parents see Little League games and tennis lessons as college-fund investments? As competitive youth sports have become a full-blown industry requiring more of a family’s time...
Read MoreWhy Are We Unprepared for Widowhood?
LFG Marketing | June 2019 Something you probably don’t know: June 23rd is International Widows Day on the United Nations’ calendar. First observed in 2010, the day was established to raise global awareness of the hardships...
Read MoreDo You Believe? A Fix for “Dumb Money”
LFG Marketing | June 2019 Can you fix stupid? Cynics would say “no.” But optimists keep trying, looking for ways to help people make better decisions, have better outcomes. Since the Enlightenment, the primary prescription...
Read MoreMore Money or More Time?
More Money or More Time? LFG Marketing | May 2019 Surveys show that in the United States, almost everyone, even those with very high incomes, believes their lives would be better if they had more money. But maybe what we really need is...
Read MoreSpending: The House Drives Everything
Spending: The House Drives Everything LFG Marketing | May 2019 A fundamental principle of personal finance: The more you spend, the less you have to save and invest. A unique financial insight: One of the biggest determiners of how...
Read MoreThe Chart of the Century
The Chart of the Century LFG Marketing | May 2019 If a picture is worth a thousand words, how much can be said about the “chart of the century?” It depends on what you see. Mark Perry is an economics and finance professor...
Read MoreHow Savings Protect Your Investments
How Savings Protect Your Investments LFG Marketing | May 2019 Want to improve your chances for long-term financial success? You might want to focus on maintaining healthy cash reserves. Recent studies suggest one of the reasons many...
Read More"Stupid" Rules and Principles
“Stupid” Rules and Principles LFG Marketing | April 2019 An investment professional who publishes a daily newsletter of market commentary was asked by one of his readers “Do I need a budget?” The investment...
Read MoreSection 199A: Unintended Tax Consequences for Small Business Owners
Section 199A: Unintended Tax Consequences for Small Business Owners LFG Marketing | April 2019 In December 2017, Congress enacted “once-in-a-generation” income-tax changes, which took effect in 2018. Some changes were...
Read MoreThe Framing of Tax Refunds
The Framing of Tax Refunds LFG Marketing | April 2019 As of mid-February 2019, the Internal Revenue Service reported that the average tax refund from 2018 returns was down 17 percent, compared to the previous year. Considering that tax...
Read MorePirates and Password Retrieval
Pirates and Password Retrieval LFG Marketing | April 2019 “Who Knows Dad’s Passwords?” Ooh. That question makes you uneasy, doesn’t it? Without any context, you know something is amiss. If no one knows the...
Read More4 Percent Consols: The Oldest “Active” Debt
Studying extremes can often bring great clarity to a topic. For example, to better comprehend the impact of the Earth tilting on its axis, look at how long or short the days are at the North Pole in summer or winter. And for greater...
Read MoreLuttner Financial Group Donates to Make-A-Wish Foundation
Luttner Financial Group (LFG) raised $104,000 for The Make-A-Wish Foundation on August 20, 2018 at its 25th annual Golf Benefit held at The Club at Nevillewood. The event encompassed over 90 golfers who played skill games and...
Read MoreThe FIRST Life Insurance Decision (It’s not term vs. whole life.)
The personal-finance principle of “Protection First” is frequently referenced in this publication; preserving the value of assets you already have is one of the most effective ways to achieve long-term financial security....
Read More“The Bank of Mom and Dad” vs. Retirement
The Federal Housing Administration recently published data showing that, for the fiscal year ending September 2018, 26% of first-time home buyers received financial assistance from relatives, usually parents, to come up with the down...
Read MoreA Blast From the Past (as in 1999)
“Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.” This phrase, attributed to Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr, a 19th -century French literary critic and novelist, literally translates to “The more that...
Read MorePremium Financing: Leverage for Life Insurance
Almost everyone who enjoys a measure of financial success has at some point borrowed to facilitate their plans. Debt provides financial leverage to control or acquire more assets, and the opportunity to multiply productivity. Very few...
Read MoreCan you adjust your Biological Age?
Age might be just a number, but age-related numbers are important markers in personal finance, particularly in retirement. For example: 59½ is the age at which penalty-free withdrawals can be made from qualified retirement plans...
Read MoreDebunking a “Flat Earth” Theory
Due to some ambiguously provocative statements from a few celebrities and professional athletes, there has been a revival of “Flat Earth” theories in public discussion. In one form or another, these ideas postulate that the...
Read MorePlanning for Leisure - Before Retirement
Would you be interested in… Enhancing your professional and vocational resume? Exploring a career change? Dedicating some extended time to a special project? Establishing a better work-life balance? Enjoying some...
Read MoreLeading your Employees to Financial Confidence
With the recent Tax Reform Act, many employees find themselves with a little more in their paychecks. If companies are doing well, perhaps giving raises and bonuses, this too will help employees to have extra cash. According to a...
Read MoreTop 10 Reasons Why an Employer Would Want to Offer a 401(k) Plan
Top 10 Reasons Why an Employer Would Want to Offer a 401(k) Plan A small business establishing its first/original 401(k) plan for its employees can qualify for $1,500 in tax credits, $500 each year for the first three years. Business...
Read MoreLifetime Financial Growth Announces Expansion into Canton, Ohio
Pittsburgh, PA and Canton, OH February 21st, 2018– Lifetime Financial Growth (“LFG”), a regional wealth management firm with headquarters in Pittsburgh, PA is pleased to announce that it is expanding its presence in...
Read MoreTerm Life Insurance: It’s Not So Simple
When the primary focus of a personal financial plan is maximizing accumulation, things that don’t contribute directly to this objective are often given the briefest of discussions, and evaluated in the simplest of contexts. This...
Read MoreUnintended Consequences: 401(k)s Clobber the Best Savers
Besides producing revenue for governments to operate, taxes are used to influence behavior. “Sin taxes” on tobacco and alcohol raise their prices, and hopefully deter their use and abuse. Tax credits may prompt consumers to...
Read MoreCollege Education v. Debt and Savings
For at least 50 years, politicians and policy makers have championed a college degree as the surest path to prosperity and upward mobility. This assertion has merit: numerous studies show college graduates have significantly higher...
Read MoreDon’t Get Mad. Get Real.
Life is unfair. But what if there’s a way to tip the cosmic scales of justice in your favor, at least when it comes to money? A new advertising campaign for a retail brokerage company implies that the difference between your...
Read MoreNo Saving, No Financial Miracles
We are captivated by events in which small, ordinary actions produce extraordinary results. In the financial world, this delight and wonder is often directed toward compounding, the way invested money can seemingly multiply itself. But...
Read MoreAccountability in Personal Finance
“Should I ask why you’re doing that?” _______________________________________________________ There is genius in the phrasing of that question. A respondent can say as little or as much as they want, yet whatever they...
Read MoreDo the Right Thing: Insure Your Economic Value
A fundamental purpose of life insurance is to replace an individual’s economic value should they die earlier than anticipated. Considering that the ability to earn an income is one’s greatest financial asset, it is logical...
Read MoreWant Guaranteed Lifetime Income? Add Annuities1
When the 401(k) was introduced a little over three decades ago, it was intended to supplement monthly checks from Social Security and employer-sponsored pension plans. Today, many pensions are gone, Social Security has a funding...
Read MoreRealistic Projections = Robust Savings
Just because you have a plan doesn’t mean it will work. An integral feature in many personal financial programs is a projection of future accumulations, and the retirement income this accumulation could provide. This projection...
Read MoreLifetime Financial Growth Expands to Michigan
Lifetime Financial Growth (“LFG”), a regional wealth management firm with headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pa., is pleased to announce its expansion to Detroit, Mich. LFG is a leading financial services provider with principal...
Read MoreYour Employer as 401(k)Loan Officer
If your employer offers a 401(k), you probably know the basics: deposits are made on a pre-tax basis, earnings accumulate tax-free, and distributions after age 59½ are taxed as regular income. These features, along with other...
Read MoreThe Return of Alt-Mortgages
Interest costs are a drain on any financial plan, so it’s understandable that consumers would seek to minimize them. For many, this means finding the lower interest rate and/or the shortest loan term. But there are other options,...
Read MoreThe Stresses in Staggered Retirement
The Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale is a list of 43 stressful life events that can contribute to illness. Developed in the late 1960s and regularly updated, the most stressful life events are relational – the death of a spouse,...
Read MoreYou Are Not So Smart (but You Can Get Lucky)
“A stupid decision that works out well becomes a brilliant decision in hindsight.” Daniel Kahneman, “Thinking Fast and Slow” If you want to be successful, you should emulate successful people. Seems logical,...
Read MoreTHE DETAILS OF DISTRIBUTION
Cash-value life insurance is an ingenious combination of financial and actuarial fundamentals. And because of this creative complexity, insurance companies and financial professionals continue to find new ways to construct and utilize...
Read MoreNEW TWIST: SELLING HOME EQUITY
Turning home equity into cash through a home equity line of credit or a new mortgage is a common transaction. With the house as collateral, the interest rate and monthly payments will be lower than most unsecured loans, and under...
Read MoreJOCKS, DOCS AND DISABILITY INSURANCE
There still may be individual athletes who match the old stereotype of a dumb jock, but more and more, it is apparent that highly-skilled athletes have a far better sense of their occupational risks. In fact, you might say pro athletes...
Read MorePROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE EQUALS TIME MANAGEMENT
“You have to live on 24 hours of time. Out of it you have to spin health, pleasure, money, content, respect and the evolution of your immortal soul. Its right use…is a matter of the highest urgency.” Arnold Bennett,...
Read MoreLESS DEBT IS BETTER FOR YOU
Money packs a tremendous physiological wallop. In general, the better our personal finances, the healthier we are, emotionally and physically. But when personal finances are out of balance, it can affect our productivity, relationships...
Read MoreFROM STICK HOUSE TO BRICK HOUSE
Whatever your financial condition, cash reserves are valuable; there is never a point where you can say you won’t need them. But while cash reserves are desirable and necessary, the safety and liquidity they require have...
Read MoreTHE SAME RETIREMENT IN FEET AND METERS
Both the English and Metric systems provide accurate measurements of distances, weights and volumes, but most Americans find it difficult to convert from one system to the other. For example, how far is a 26.2-mile marathon in...
Read MoreFOR OWNERS, IT'S DIFFERENT
If you were asked to list the fundamentals of personal finance, you might include the following: live within your means, control debt, manage risks, and save for the future. These are fairly universal actions; they apply to...
Read MoreYOUR FIRST HOME MAY BE A HORIZONTAL APARTMENT
Remember this term: Horizontal Apartments. That’s what some real estate developers are calling clusters of single-family homes in rental communities that combine the privacy of individual residences with professional property...
Read MoreTHE NEED TO BLAME A REAL PERSON
As much as we might want to believe there is a magic formula for personal finance which simply requires plugging in the right numbers, success or failure has a lot more to do with our psychological makeup and personal habits than...
Read MoreLIFE INSURANCE: ASSET OR LIABILITY?
In his 1997 bestseller, Rich Dad, Poor Dad, Robert Kiyosaki put forward a simple formula for financial success: “You must know the difference between an asset and a liability, and buy assets. If you want to be rich, it is all you...
Read MoreFINANCIAL IDEAS THAT HAVE “JUMPED THE SHARK”
In September 1977, the hit TV show “Happy Days” started its fifth season. Since its debut, the situation comedy about 1950s-era high schoolers had seen a once-minor character, Arthur Fonzarelli – “the...
Read MoreIT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO PASS ALONG FINANCIAL WISDOM
"Teaching Kids about Money” is a regular personal finance topic. Articles usually include discussions about setting allowances, developing good saving and spending habits, explaining how compounding works, etc. Giving your kids...
Read MoreConnectivity Insurance
On a Saturday afternoon, your smartphone lights up with an unrecognized caller from another state. Although skeptical that it’s a telemarketer, you answer. “Hello?” “Hey Dad, it’s me.” You hear your...
Read MoreThe “Professional Deformation” of Life Insurance
“Every specialist, owing to a well-known professional bias, believes that he understands the entire human being, while in reality he only grasps a tiny part of him.” - Alexis Carrel “These are terrible nails!”...
Read MoreCan You Be Trusted with Your Money?
An underlying assumption in much commentary about personal finance is that most people are terrible with money. Financially illiterate, manipulated by marketing, distracted by present concerns, and guided by emotions, the masses...
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