For more information about the author, click to view their website: Seniors Blue Book
Retirement changes the questions people ask about money.
During the working years, the focus may be on building
savings and investing for the future. Later, priorities often shift toward
creating reliable retirement income, managing investment risk, protecting
assets, preparing for healthcare expenses, coordinating insurance, planning an
estate, and determining what can eventually be passed to children or
grandchildren.
A financial advisor can help organize these decisions into a
broader strategy.
For people searching for senior financial advisors in
Sarasota, FL, Chad Choate of Level Four Financial provides
wealth-management, retirement-planning, insurance and related financial
services to individuals and families in the Sarasota-Manatee area.
What Does a Financial Advisor Do?
The term "financial advisor" can cover
professionals who provide different services, credentials, products, and
compensation arrangements.
Depending on the professional and firm, services may
include:
A financial advisor does not replace an attorney, CPA, or
medical professional. Instead, effective financial planning often involves
coordinating decisions across several disciplines.
Level Four Financial – Chad Choate
1001 3rd Avenue West, Suite 500, Bradenton, FL 34205
Phone: 941-730-5983
Chad Choate, III, AAMS®, CEPA® is a Business Unit Leader, Private Wealth Advisor, and Insurance Agent with Level Four Group.
Although the office is in Bradenton, Choate works in the
greater Sarasota-Manatee market and is listed by Seniors Blue Book as a
financial resource serving area clients.
AAMS and CEPA Designations
Choate holds the Accredited Asset Management Specialist,
or AAMS®, designation and the Certified Exit Planning Advisor, or CEPA®,
designation.
Professional designations can provide useful information
about specialized training, but consumers should still evaluate the
professional's services, licenses, compensation, experience, and fit.
FINRA cautions investors not to rely solely on a title or
designation when choosing a financial professional and encourages consumers to
conduct their own review.
Comprehensive Financial Planning
Level Four describes its approach as integrating several
areas of financial planning rather than treating each decision separately.
According to the Seniors Blue Book profile, services
available through Choate and the broader Level Four platform include:
For retirees, this coordinated approach can be useful
because one financial decision often affects several others.
For example, taking more from a retirement account may
influence taxes. Buying an insurance product can affect available assets.
Estate-planning goals may influence investment strategy. Long-term care
concerns can affect how much liquidity a household wants to maintain.
Retirement Planning
For many seniors, one of the biggest financial questions is
how to turn accumulated savings into sustainable income.
A retirement-planning conversation may consider:
No advisor can guarantee investment performance or eliminate
retirement risk.
A useful planning relationship should instead help the
client understand assumptions, risks, trade-offs, and possible strategies.
Investment Management
Level Four offers investment-management resources that
include portfolio-management strategies and access to investment products
through its financial platform. Its Seniors Blue Book profile identifies
stocks, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds, annuities and other investments among the
products accessible through the firm's brokerage platform.
Before purchasing any investment, the SEC recommends asking
how the investment works, how it fits the investor's goals, what risks are
involved, and what total fees may apply.
Insurance and Risk Management
Choate is also identified by Level Four as an insurance
agent.
The Level Four platform includes access to insurance-related
planning involving:
Insurance can be an important part of financial planning,
but products differ substantially in cost, guarantees, restrictions, liquidity
and suitability.
Clients should understand whether a recommendation is an
investment, insurance policy, or combination product and how the professional
is compensated.
Business Owners and Exit Planning
Choate's CEPA designation is particularly relevant for
business owners.
Level Four offers services involving:
For Sarasota-area business owners approaching retirement,
personal retirement planning and business-exit planning may need to be
coordinated rather than addressed separately.
Why Financial Advice Matters Locally in Sarasota
Sarasota County is one of the country's most
retirement-oriented communities.
U.S. Census Bureau estimates show that 38.8% of Sarasota
County residents are age 65 or older.
Many residents are managing retirement assets rather than
receiving employment income.
That means decisions about investment risk, withdrawals,
healthcare expenses, estate planning, insurance and wealth transfer may have a
direct effect on whether savings last through a long retirement.
The Sarasota-Manatee area is also home to many current and
former business owners, professionals, entrepreneurs, and retirees who may have
several types of assets requiring coordinated planning.
How to Get Started
1. Identify Your Financial Priorities
2. Gather Financial Records
Bring information on investment accounts, retirement
accounts, insurance, Social Security, pension income, debt and major expenses.
3. Discuss Risk
Be clear about how much market volatility you can tolerate
financially and emotionally.
4. Ask How the Advisor Is Paid
Understand every major fee and commission before
implementing recommendations.
5. Verify Credentials and Registration
Do not rely only on titles printed on a business card.
6. Coordinate With Other Professionals
Your financial advisor, CPA and estate-planning attorney may
need to work together when decisions overlap.
7. Review the Plan Regularly
Update your plan after major financial, health or family
changes.
Related Categories
A move, a change in care needs, or the loss of a spouse can turn a familiar retirement budget into a list of new decisions. Before meeting with a financial professional, identify the question you want answered. You might need to understand what a move would do to your monthly expenses or how much flexibility you have if care costs rise.What Financial Services CoverFinancial services can include financial planning, investment advice, insurance, or help with other money decisions. The scope depends on the professional and the firm. If your immediate question is about paying an overdue bill or applying for a public benefit, a local assistance program may be the better first call. If youre weighing how to use savings or investment accounts over time, ask whether an adviser can address that specific question. Jetty Financial - Rich GaldieriPhone: 303-710-5015Richard Galdieris public professional profile identifies Jetty Financial. The SECs Investment Adviser Public Disclosure database identifies him under CRD number 8206153 with Global View Capital Management LLC in Lafayette, Colorado. Ask which firm would provide the service and appear on your written agreement. The firms name gives you the information you need to review the right disclosures and direct follow-up questions. Ask What the Engagement IncludesDescribe the decision youre facing and ask what the professional can provide in writing. That may mean a one-time review, a planning engagement, or ongoing investment management, depending on the firms services. Ask which fees apply, how they are calculated, and whether any products or third parties carry separate costs. Investor.gov offers a tool to check registration and review relationship disclosures. Why This Matters in BoulderIf youre deciding whether to stay in your Boulder home or move closer to family, use actual costs for both options. For your current home, pull recent bills for taxes, insurance, maintenance, and any paid help. For a move, gather quotes for housing and services you expect to use. Put one-time expenses, such as moving or preparing the house for sale, on their own list so you can compare recurring costs clearly.How to Get Started1. Put Your Main Question on One PageList income sources, regular expenses, and the change you expect in the next year. Bring rough figures to an introductory conversation and ask how the firm handles confidential documents before sending account statements.2. Confirm Fees and ResponsibilitiesAsk who will work with you, what you will receive, and how much the engagement is expected to cost. If you are considering ongoing services, ask how often you would meet and what happens if you end the relationship.3. Take Time to Review the AgreementRead the written scope and fee terms before deciding. If your question also involves taxes or legal documents, identify which parts you should take to a tax professional or an attorney. Related Seniors Blue Book Categories Financial Services Elder Law Estate Planning
A utility bill can be manageable one month and hard to cover the next. If youre living on a fixed income or helping an older family member sort through overdue notices, start with the bill or expense that has the closest deadline. The City of Boulders Older Adult Services case managers can help eligible residents understand what assistance may be available and where to apply.What Financial Assistance Can Help WithFinancial assistance programs help eligible households cover essential expenses or connect with resources that reduce those costs. Programs may address a one-time problem, such as a bill that came due unexpectedly, or an ongoing need, such as difficulty paying for groceries. Each program sets its own rules and deadlines. A case manager can help you identify which applications are worth pursuing.City of Boulder Older Adult ServicesPhone: 303-441-4388 The citys Older Adult Services team works with Boulder residents age 60 and older and their caregivers. Case managers provide information and referrals, help people understand available options, and offer short-term case management. The city also provides financial assistance for eligible clients. Its published screening criteria include age, residency, income, and the type and circumstances of the request. What to Bring Up on the First CallDescribe the immediate problem in plain terms. I received a shutoff notice with a date next week gives a case manager a clearer starting point than I need help with bills. If the same expense has become hard to cover every month, say so. That gives the case manager a chance to discuss ongoing resources as well as any immediate options.Why This Matters in BoulderA Boulder mailing address and residence within Boulder city limits can mean different things for eligibility. If youre unsure whether your address qualifies, give the case manager your street address before gathering paperwork. Older adults who live elsewhere in Boulder County can start with the countys Area Agency on Aging for help identifying resources that serve their address. How to Get Started1. Find the DeadlineHave the most recent bill or notice handy. Write down the amount due, the due date, and any shutoff date or other deadline shown. Tell the case manager about the deadline at the beginning of your call.2. Ask What Documents You NeedCall 303-441-4388 and ask which documents the city needs for your particular request and how to submit them. Keep copies of any application and the name of the person you spoke with.3. Confirm the Next StepBefore you hang up, ask who will follow up, how to check the status, and whether there is another program to contact in the meantime. If you are calling for someone else, ask whether they need to join the call or give permission for staff to discuss their application. Related Seniors Blue Book Categories Area Agencies on Aging Care Management Care Coordination
Every year, plenty of families with taxable estates let one of their simplest planning tools expire quietly on December 31.I'm talking about the annual gift tax exclusion. Each person can give up to a set amount to as many people as they like each year without using any of their lifetime exemption. A married couple can effectively double it.Here's the part people miss. It doesn't carry forward. If this year's exclusion isn't used by December 31, it's gone, and January 1 simply starts a new one.So for a couple with children and grandchildren, that's real wealth that can move out of a taxable estate each year, with no complicated structure required. Skip a few years and you can't go back and claim them.It isn't free of trade-offs. Money you give away is money you no longer control, and gifts to younger family members raise fair questions about timing, trusts and readiness. Which is why the gift and the plan should be decided together, not rushed the week before New Year's.One more thing. The gift generally needs to be completed within the year, not just intended. A plan in December isn't the same as a transfer.If you have a taxable estate and haven't looked at this yet, there's still time for a conversation, ideally with your tax professional and estate attorney involved too.Thomas Kluttz, CFP, ChFC, CTFA Analog Capital Partners Naples, FloridaAnalog Capital Partners LLC is a registered investment adviser. Registration does not imply any level of skill or training. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Diversification and asset allocation do not guarantee a profit or protect against loss. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, tax, or legal advice. Additional information is available in the firm's Form ADV and client relationship summary, available upon request. CRD #8199461.