Expertise I can answer questions regarding asset allocation, investment selection, investment managers, hedge funds, investment expenses, most common tax shelters, retirement accounts.
Experience I have worked with MetLife Financial Services, Ameriprise Financial, and Merrill Lynch. I also manage millions in client assets, though I am not actively searching for more clients, and I do not accept commisions for financial products.
Organizations Financial Management Association
Education/Credentials I am in the process of attaining my Ph.D. in Finance with a support area of econometrics, and have a bachelors degree in Finance with a concentration in Real Estate from Florida State University.
Education
Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
Ph.D. in Finance, pending
Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
B.S. in Real Estate and Political Science, Spring 2002
Related Industry Experience
Merrill Lynch, Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch, with $3,000,000 in assets on the books, $2,000,000 of which was fee based, where clients followed specific portfolio recommendations based on optimized portfolios tailored to risk tolerance and goals, 2006-2007
Independent, Financial Planner, continuing to work with select clients, 2005-2006
MetLife, Financial Services Representative, Selling Life Insurance and Annuities, 2003
Guernsey and Associates, Boutique Financial Planning Firm Internship, Selling Life Insurance and Fee-based Financial Plans, Fall 2002
Honors and Awards
College of Business Ph.D. Fellowship/Assistantship
College Teaching Fellowship Award
Full Undergraduate Academic Scholarship at FSU
National Merit Scholar Award
Q: I have a traditional IRA with a independent broker but would like to transfer it to Fidelity. I am ... A: Rose, This question isn't easy to answer. Statistically, we know that lower fees will give you ...
Q: I put my money in the first two banks, which is very dangerous, ... A: SC, Without knowing what your goals for your money are, it's hard to make a specific ...
Q: In a recent answer against self-directed IRA's, you said "You and your family can't work on the real ... A: John, I'm not an expert on this area, largely because I never recommend these types of transactions ...
Q: I have a SEP account and would like to move it to a hedge fund. Are there any fees or penalties for ... A: Jason, It depends on the investment you have inside the SEP IRA account. If it's an annuity or ...
Q: I got laid off from my job last month but was fortunate to find a new better paying position fairly ... A: Clueless, It's tough to say what I'd do if I were you. Based on what you've told me, however, I'd ...
Q: I am a US citizen currently living in Canada. I pay both US and Canadian taxes. I am a recent ... A: Linda, Based on everything you told me, I think you should plow that 70,000 from your sale back ...
Q: I AM GOING THROUGH A DIVORCE. I WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH OF A PENALTY I WILL FACE IF I CLOSE OUT MY ... A: George, Assuming you're in a 25% tax bracket (or that you'd pay 25% on average of the income ...
Q: We are in the process of filing out a "Power of Attorney" and it states the following. be it known ... A: I would imagine it's referring to an address of record for the subject. My only point of reference ...
Q: My wife and I are in our mid 40s. Over the last 12 yrs we have had our $250,000 retirement money ... A: I would venture to guess that you've probably underperformed the market, and it's probably due to a ...
Q: My wife and I are in our mid 40s. Over the last 12 yrs we have had our $250,000 retirement money ... A: Without knowing the details, I can't say what's at fault for the problems in your past performance. ...
Q: Riversource Growth A Mutuals & large cap has done poorly in recent years when overall mkt has gone ... A: Bill, If you mean you have another 60k in cash or money market funds, I wouldn't worry. Money ...
Q: Riversource Growth A Mutuals & large cap has done poorly in recent years when overall mkt has gone ... A: Bill, If you're going to be drawing down 4% or less, I'm comfortable maintaining your equity ...
Q: Aaron, My pension fund is with 'Integra' in Canada.Since money is borderless I hope this wont be a ... A: Barry, Congratulations on revisiting your portfolio allocations. Good for you for avoiding bonds. ...
Q: Aaron, I am 45 and I am planning on retiring at 55. We are considering buying a ... A: Ken, It's hard to say which would be better. I understand that property taxes are lower in Alabama ...
Q: I currently have around 800K in retirement funds in three places. One is Fidelity and I intend to ... A: It sounds like you're about to take your 401k to Fidelity so you have more control. I applaud you ...
Q: I am holding 600,000 in my Fidelity IRA///In case of default by Fidelity, who will insure my account ... A: Elaine, You have absolutely nothing to worry about. If Fidelity goes bankrupt (virtually ...
Q: I have a question about mutual funds. I saw a segment a few years ago on television with financial ... A: Danielle, Yes it's possible you could have 1,000,000 by age 60. However, you can't guarantee that. ...
Q: My son (age 30) recently considered joining a pension plan run by a well-known British insurance ... A: Michael, The payments in the US that agents recieve on selling pensions (we call them annuities) ...
Q: I'm thinking of rolling over my 401k balance into a Rollover IRA. I'm 66; retired at 65; left my ... A: Alida, At your age, for all practical purposes, withdrawal regulations for IRAs are no different ...
Q: I'm thinking of rolling over my 401k balance into a Rollover IRA. I'm 66; retired at 65; left my ... A: Alida, You're mainly concerned about ease of dealing with your retirement account. Considering ...
Q: I am 47-years-old. I retired from a municipality 3 1/2 years ago that offered only a defined ... A: Dennis, If your new employer will allow you to roll some of your IRA into a pension plan, there ...
Q: Ok, I have never seen this question asked and have been unable to find an answer. In order to access ... A: Yes, you can do what you ask, but will you have penalties for resigning and reapplying? Are you ...
Q: I have a 401(k) from my job, but the company the 401(k) offers limited options for investment, and ... A: Very few 401k plans allow "in service distributions," that is, allowing rollovers to IRA's while ...
Q: Age 44. I have a 401K plan at my current employer. I need to access some of the funds. I realize ... A: Debbie, Yes, you can withdraw any money that is fully vested (you might not be allowed to withdraw ...
Q: From what I understand, and EIA (Equity Index Annuity) is an annuity that credits interest based ... A: Here's how the EIA works. The insurance company buys (for example) zero coupon bonds with say 95% ...
Q: I know you need to diversify your 401K. Is it OK to put all your funds into a fund that diversifies ... A: Sharon, Diversification is good, and a fund that helps you do that is a good thing. You asked ...
Q: Lots of home out there for sale right now. I understand that I can transfer my Roth IRA and my IRA ... A: Bill, This is a question I've addressed previously. I hope it's as helpful to you as to Larry. ...
Q: Aaron, Thank you in advance for your advice. Financial stuff is way out of my expertise... I have ... A: Christina, The only way (I can think of) to do what you want to do is to get some tax software like ...
Q: I recently bought a new car not knowing that 2 weeks later we would put money down on a new home. ... A: In a nutshell, you're going to lose tax deferred growth in your 401k to reduce tax savings from ...
Q: I have a question about retirement accounts. I am 32. Two years ago (at age 30) I started a ... A: Asad, Basically you are moving from getting professional advice to making the initiative to do it ...
Q: I have a question about retirement accounts. I am 32. Two years ago (at age 30) I started a ... A: Asad, The reason multiple types of retirement accounts exist is because Congress in it's divided ...
Q: Greetings: I might want to set up a self-directed IRA (to purchase real estate). Can I do this ... A: Larry, I understand why the idea of buying real estate in your IRA is attractive to you. However, ...
Q: Michael--We are 58 and looking into retirement planning (Pennsylvania). Our broker has suggested we ... A: Steve and Karen, I am familiar with the benefits of Lincoln and John Hancock annuities. They offer ...
