In this episode of Blue Money, Jim & Kevin invited Bruce Goldstein, Certified Public Accountant, to come on the show to help our law enforcement agents get the most of their tax filing this tax season. The filing deadline for this year is April 18 so it’s quickly approaching. Listen to this episode to make sure you’re not missing out on any deductions or credits available to law enforcement employees in 2023. Bruce lists off many items that, in his years of experience, he sees law enforcement employees forget they can write off as a deduction. He explains the importance of hiring a trained professional to prepare your taxes, especially one that is focused on law enforcement employees. Bruce does a great job at explaining the difference between the standard deduction and specific deductions. He also talks about the different types of tax forms and what they’re for. Listen through to the end for Bruce’s top three pieces of advice for getting the most out of your tax preparation. To contact Lt. Jim Donnelly: [email protected] To contact Kevin McGarry: [email protected] For a free financial assessment, or for more information visit valleyfinancial.com

In this episode of Blue Money, Kevin & Jim invite David J. Balcer, attorney at law, to have an in depth conversation about wills and estate planning. It’s a conversation many people don’t like to have, but it is a necessary one. Listen to find out all the reasons why you don’t want to leave things intestate, and what that means. David goes over how to ensure your assets are treated the way you want. He explains what may override a will and what happens if there is no will in place. The guys also talk about what a trust is and look at the similarities and differences between a trust and a will. If you’re wondering what “probate” is, that is discussed too. The majority of adult Americans don’t have their estate planning and will in place; don’t be part of that group. Listen to this episode to learn why estate planning is important, and then contact the guys at Valley Financial to help you get started. Contact David J Balcer 215-947-7090 [email protected] To contact Lt. Jim Donnelly: [email protected] To contact Kevin McGarry: [email protected] For a free financial assessment, or for more information visit valleyfinancial.com

In this episode of Blue Money, Jim & Kevin are discussing 2022 in review. They’re also providing a checklist for you to use at the end of this year, to make sure you’re in the best financial standing you can be going into the new year. Kevin has a great list of questions you can ask yourself to help prepare financially for the upcoming year. Jim also has suggestions for things to check in on at this time of year. The guys also talk about preparing for taxes as the end of the fiscal tax year comes to an end. Listen to this episode to make sure you’re in the best position possible going into 2023. The guys touch on so many different topics and bring up so many good points, you may want to take notes, and listen more than once. There’s a lot packed into this short episode. Free Credit Report: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/free-credit-reports To contact Lt. Jim Donnelly: [email protected] To contact Kevin McGarry: [email protected] For a free financial assessment, or for more information visit valleyfinancial.com

In this episode of Blue Money, the guys are breaking down all the reasons why a person should have a financial advisor. These aren’t just Kevin & Jim’s opinions - they have the numbers to back it up. You may be surprised to hear the difference between people who use a financial advisor and people who choose not to - the stats alone should be enough for you to make an appointment with an advisor, if you haven’t already. Most people don’t realize all the benefits financial planners offer, so Jim & Kevin list off the services they offer. They aren’t just suggesting you to consult a financial advisor, they’re taking it a step further by helping you find the right advisor for you. The guys wrap up this episode with some advice everyone needs to hear. ARTICLES https://www.fidelity.com/viewpoints/investing-ideas/financial-advisor-cost https://www.vanguard.ca/documents/advisors-alpha-infographic.pdf To contact Lt. Jim Donnelly: [email protected] To contact Kevin McGarry: [email protected] For a free financial assessment, or for more information visit valleyfinancial.com

In this episode of Blue Money, Kevin & Jim discuss the effect on the economy that the midterm elections have historically. Kevin offers an explanation for why we see the trends we do around election time. Jim explains the current situation and what’s at stake, then goes into running most likely economic scenarios based on the possible outcomes of this election. Listen at 4:40 for what Kevin means when he says “it doesn’t matter.” The guys put the bipartisan impact on the economy in perspective without taking sides. This is an informative, timely episode that will help put your mind at ease if you are feeling unsure about the current political climate and how it affects your finances in the long term. To contact Lt. Jim Donnelly: [email protected]
 To contact Kevin McGarry: [email protected]
 For a free financial assessment, or for more information visit valleyfinancial.com

In this episode of Blue Money, Jim and Kevin are talking with Matt Boyle, the Vice President of Life and Health Solutions with Incenter Insurance Solutions. Continuing the theme from the last episode, the guys are discussing post-retirement benefits and how to access them. Kevin and Jim, and the rest of the group at Valley Financial, are here to help you plan for your future, and ultimately, a comfortable retirement. But what happens when retirement time comes - how do you access your benefits and make the most of your retirement? Kevin and Jim partner with guys like Matt to help you enjoy your retirement benefits. The conversation jumps right into the ins and outs of Medicare. They go over some common questions and scenarios that apply to many of their police force clients. Matt answers all the guys’ questions and makes Medicare easier to understand. Listen to the end for some Medicare trivia that may come in handy at your next quizzo night. To contact Matt Boyle call: 267-460-2828 or email: [email protected] To contact Lt. Jim Donnelly: [email protected] To contact Kevin McGarry: [email protected] For a free financial assessment, or for more information visit valleyfinancial.com

In this episode of Blue Money, Kevin and Jim are discussing all things involved in the social security benefits of being a police officer. They start off by explaining how officers qualify and what “credits” means, in regards to social security. Then they jump into answering the most common questions they hear from their clients. Do you know what “full retirement age” means and the nuances of the term? Listen to this episode for clarity. Kevin & Jim want to help you maximize your social security benefits, not just for yourself, but for your spouse as well. They break down the math on why it makes sense to delay taking your social security. When they give you the numbers, it’s easy to see why their strategy makes sense. The guys are trying to demystify the tax implications of social security. They also bring up the issue that not all officers pay into social security, depending on where they work. Kevin & Jim round out the conversation by talking about Medicare benefits, and leave us with three important takeaways. To contact Lt. Jim Donnelly: [email protected] To contact Kevin McGarry: [email protected] For a free financial assessment, or for more information visit valleyfinancial.com

In this episode of Blue Money, Kevin & Jim are doing a mid-year check-in. They are reviewing their portfolios and the market performance so far this year. The guys discuss the US economic climate, touching on cryptocurrency, the stock market, bonds, and commodities. They also talk about global economics, looking at many other countries around the world. After reflecting on the first half of the year, the guys go over what they predict for the next six months. They debate whether we are currently in a recession or not. Listen to this episode for Kevin’s outlook for the second half of 2022. Jim has advice for how to ride the roller coaster of 2022’s market. Kevin has three pieces of advice for what to take away from this episode. He’s giving the perspective and reassurance needed to stay in the game. To contact Lt. Jim Donnelly: [email protected] To contact Kevin McGarry: [email protected] For a free financial assessment, or for more information visit valleyfinancial.com

In this episode of Blue Money, Jim & Kevin are discussing all things credit cards. Jim starts off the conversation with a personal story, like so many others, about his own experience getting in credit card debt at a young age. They go into explaining why and how it’s so easy to get into and stay in credit card debt. Listen for tips on how to get out of credit card debt. If you don’t like the word “budget,” you’ll love the spending plan concept. The guys bring up the snowball method and avalanche method for paying off debt. They compare the two and explain when it’s best to use each. Credit cards can be a great tool, when used correctly. Listen to this podcast for best practices when it comes to dealing with credit cards. To contact Lt. Jim Donnelly: [email protected] To contact Kevin McGarry: [email protected] For a free financial assessment, or for more information visit valleyfinancial.com

In this episode of Blue Money, Jim & Kevin are speaking with Christine Nelson, founder of Fuel the Force. Christina explains how she came up with the idea for Fuel the Force, and how the name came to be. They discuss the current status of Fuel the Force and also talk about future goals. If you’re a restaurant owner who would like to participate in Fuel the Force, listen at 5:10 for information on the process. Get in on the program now, before it goes nationwide. If you’re thinking about starting a non-profit organization to support police, this is the podcast episode for you to listen to. The guys ask Christine about past work she’s done in support of the police force. To contact Christine Nelson - [email protected] To donate to Fuel the Force: https://www.gofundme.com/f/fuel-the-force-newtown To contact Lt. Jim Donnelly: [email protected] To contact Kevin McGarry: [email protected] For a free financial assessment, or for more information visit valleyfinancial.com