Derek Mazzarella, CFP®

Gateway Financial Partners

Securities offered through LPL Financial, member FINRA/SIPC. For hyperlinks to FINRA and SIPC, please refer to ‘See Contact Info’ section above. Insurance products offered through LPL Financial or its licensed affiliates. Gateway Financial Partners are not registered broker/dealers and are not affiliated with LPL Financial. Investment Advisory Services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor.

Third party posts found on this profile do not reflect the views of LPL Financial and have not been reviewed by LPL Financial as to accuracy or completeness.

The financial professionals associated with Gateway Financial Partners may discuss and/or transact business only with residents of the states in which they are properly registered or licensed. No offers may be made or accepted from any resident of any other state.

Certified Financial Planner

Park Avenue Securities

Registered Representative and Financial Advisor of Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS).

Investment Advisor

The Bulfinch Group

We look to partner with our clients in order to implement the right strategies at the right time. 

Our philosophy is all about our clients taking control over their finances in order to deliver meaningful and measurable results. We want our clients to have a plan for every scenario and any financial situation. 

Our focus is on educating our clients on the four main domains that affect their lives: Cash Flow, Protection, Debt Management and Investments. Since a financial decision can affect multiple areas of a person's life, we look to integrate all four areas in the financial decision making process.  

Services:
Wealth Management
401k/Retirement Plans
Life Insurance
Disability Insurance
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance

Investment Specialist

National Life Group

I worked with clients to create a customized financial plan that focused on ensuring their financial goals and alleviating financial threats. Each client was able to obtain the proper balance between investing, wealth building, and protection.

Representative

Aflac

Aflac offers supplemental health, life, dental, and disability insurance as well as for specific conditions such as cancer insurance. Aflac’s policies are designed to alleviate the financial burden associated with a health event. Their voluntary benefit plans are designed to work with a company’s overall employee benefit offering.

Agent

Kaman Aerospace

Inside Sales Representative Intern

Let’s face it, you don’t need a financial advisor. You can learn anything you want about finances from books or the internet. You can even have a robot manage your investments. Learning about finances that way takes time. Most people I work with are too busy to manage their own finances and don’t have the time to learn. 

Together, we can build on the good things you’ve already done to improve your financial outlook while having fun in the process. More importantly we can help you have an enjoyable and fulfilling life.  

How I Help Clients:

✅	Get financially organized
✅	Find ways to address taxes now and later
✅	Create a customized investment plan/Manage Stock Options/RSUs
✅	Develop systems to potentially save more money
✅	Plan for now and retirement

The Potential Results:

✅	Build financial confidence
✅	Action is taken
✅	You can feel lighter and less stressed
✅	Increased financial knowledge
✅	You’ll save time

You can book a time on my calendar to learn more about the process and see if we are a fit for each other. 

https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/DerekMazzarella1@mygfpartner.com/bookings/s/VpFghfQFNkyVJj_M6ST9-A2

Securities offered through LPL Financial, member FINRA/SIPC. For hyperlinks to FINRA and SIPC, please refer to ‘See Contact Info’ section above. Insurance products offered through LPL Financial or its licensed affiliates. Gateway Financial Partners are not registered broker/dealers and are not affiliated with LPL Financial. Investment Advisory Services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor.

Third party posts found on this profile do not reflect the views of LPL Financial and have not been reviewed by LPL Financial as to accuracy or completeness.

The financial professionals associated with Gateway Financial Partners may discuss and/or transact business only with residents of the states in which they are properly registered or licensed. No offers may be made or accepted from any resident of any other state.

 

Cheese and crackers are an excellent combination, but are they enough?



No one will get mad at you for pulling out cheese and crackers when they come over. 

However, they'd be ecstatic by a fancy charcuterie board. 

Charcuterie boards blend in a variety of flavor combinations that rarely get dull. 

Most people have a retirement plan that is mainly cheese and crackers (stocks and bonds). 

What they really need is a more full flavor profile. Successful retirements blend in a variety of income sources: stocks/bonds, annuities, real estate, etc.

Much like dried apricots, honey and meats will add layers to your charcuterie board, having various asset classes will provide options to handle different economic environments. 

Is your retirement income plan a plate of cheese and crackers or a charcuterie board? 

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I’m Derek, a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)…
I talk about uncommon financial strategies 
with a focus on helping you retire well.

Talks about #insurance, #investing, #taxstrategies, #financialplanning, and #retirementplanning

I help busy executives with strategies to build wealth, pay fewer taxes and crush retirement | Company Stock Planning | Retirement Planning

Your home is a significant investment and we often have misconceptions about which projects provide the most return. 


This week on Millennial Money Matters, Kelly Turner and I sit down with a very special guest, Corey Turner of Turner Home Improvement to break down the home decisions that actually matter.

If you've ever wondered:

• Which home projects add value and which are just expensive distractions
  
• The real lifespan of your roof, water heater, and other big ticket items
  
• The most layers on a roof Corey's ever seen
  
• Most importantly, how to spot a shady contractor

As financial planners, we talk about making the right investments all the time. Your home should be no different. 

Have you ever had a home project you regretted? 

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I’m Derek, a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)…
I talk about uncommon financial strategies 
with a focus on helping you retire well.

If people were at a funeral, they'd rather be in the casket than have a light wallet. 



According to an Allianz study, 61% of of Americans say they're more scared of running out of money than dying. 

This type of fear may seem irrational, but it's understandable. Fear comes from uncertainty. 

• People are uncertain of how much money they will need
• They are uncertain about how much income their assets can generate 
• We are uncertain about how long we will live for 

I'll never be able to know last one, but I can help with the first two. 

The way to overcome fear is to address it head on. Run through scenarios, review numbers, create a plan and adjust along the way. 

What are you doing to build certainty in your retirement. 

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I’m Derek, a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)…
I talk about uncommon financial strategies 
with a focus on helping you retire well.

A while back, murphy's law seemed to happen to me. 


My rental property's dryer died, then two weeks later, the washing machine also died. In between, the sink was clogged and I need to call the plumber. None of these things were cheap. 

Then... my wife's car needed a new transmission. 

My car needed new tires as well. 

Throw in the general increased expenses for the holidays and it was quite an expensive month. 

Was I annoyed and frustrated? Definitely, yes. 

Was I prepared financially? Definitely, yes. 

While this month wasn't fun, it was the exact reason I have an emergency fund. 

How are you prepared to handle and emergency or in my case several?  

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I’m Derek, a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)…
I talk about uncommon financial strategies 
with a focus on helping you retire well.

We are constantly prioritizing our lives. 


As a busy executive you're most likely juggling a demanding career, a family at home and trying desperately trying to find some time to still see your friends. Let's hang out sometime. 

Time is so precious. 

You know that reviewing your finances is important, but it keeps getting pushed to the side for more pressing items. 

Weeks go by and you still haven't gotten it off your to do list. 

What can you do about it?

If you're a do it yourselfer, schedule a meeting with yourself. Block off the time and get it done. 

If you still find yourself putting it off consider hiring someone to help you with it. 

Getting your finances in order is too important to constantly push it to the side. 

Besides, there are other things you'd probably rather spend your time on anyway. 

What are you putting off?

Are homes a good investment?


This week on Millennial Money Matters, we have a showdown of hosts. Kelly Turner and I debate owning a home vs renting and investing. 

In this episode we discuss:

• If the 50 year mortgage is a good idea

• Looking at the numbers/costs of homeowners

• Comparing the returns to the stock market

• Why housing isn't simply about the math

What are your thoughts? Do you think buying a home is a waste of money or is it a good investment? 

___________________________________________________
I’m Derek, a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)…
I talk about uncommon financial strategies 
with a focus on helping you retire well.

Dieting sucks and the results are even worse. 


Budgeting can feel the same way. 

Eating healthy becomes more manageable when it becomes a part of your lifestyle. 

How can you make budgeting a part of your lifestyle? 

Automate it. 

Figure out what you need to save to reach your goals. 

Set up the amounts to transfer in their respective accounts automatically, then you're done. 

Work backwards to get the results you want. Too much wealth is lost simply because we aren't intentional. 

If you need help getting started, send me a DM. 

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I’m Derek, a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)…
I talk about uncommon financial strategies 
with a focus on helping you retire well.

Why should you treat your finances like Pulp Fiction?


When it came out, Pulp Fiction was a hugely successful film and it was notable for it's use of non-linear story plot. It wasn't the first movie to do this, but it was one of the most famous for it. 

When you think of your finances, many people will think in a linear fashion. I'm going to go to college (pay off the debt asap), get a job, save, buy a house, maybe have kids, send them to school (yay more college bills) and then retire. 

We tend to look at each milestone of life in front of us. What would happen if we looked at planning our life out of order? 

What if we started with how we want our retirement to look or how we can incorporate out kinds into 𝗼𝘂𝗿 lifestyle (not the other way around)? 

How would you plan your finances differently? 

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I’m Derek, a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)…
I talk about uncommon financial strategies
with a focus on helping you retire well.

What does a 1930s FBI gunfight have to do with the financial planning?


Famous criminals like Bonnie & Clyde, Baby Face Nelson, John Dillinger and more were robbing banks, shooting cops and easily avoiding the law. 

The FBI was consistently failing as an organization. Then, they promoted Samuel Crowley to lead the investigations. 

All in all, he was a significant step up. He was diligent, organized and leveled up the FBI's investigation process. 

However, he refused to take gun training and never practiced firing his gun. 

Baby Face Nelson to date, had killed the most FBI agents and was considered a ruthless killer. 

Guess who ended up in a gunfight with Samuel Crowley? An FBI agent who never fired a gun and refused to do gun training. 

How do you think that went? 

When it comes to financial planning, many people focus on one thing or a couple of items. They focus on their investments and their savings, but little else. 

They forget to take the gun training. 

Financial planning does involve investments, but it also includes tax planning, keeping proper insurance coverage in place and managing your cash flow. 


PS Samuel Crowley actually did kill Baby Face Nelson, but he also died in the gun fight. He remains the highest ranking FBI officer ever killed in the line of duty. 

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I’m Derek, a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)…
I talk about uncommon financial strategies 
with a focus on helping you retire well.

This is crazy, but my client is on track to retire at 50 even though she drives a porsche. 


Many people assume in order to retire early, you have to sacrifice today for later. You have to eat tuna out of a can every night, take really inexpensive vacations and give yourself haircuts. 

In reality, you can enjoy today and still set up your future. 

Here is what we did for her:

• Maxed out her 401k plan

• Leveraged her 401k for their after-tax contribution availability to make mega backdoor roth contributions

• Set a system to offload her company stock on a consistent basis and reinvest it elsewhere

• Contribute to her non-qualified deferred compensation plan

• Saves consistently into an investment account
   
She asked me why more of her peers aren't doing this. She says, "I like to spend money." 

People aren't doing this because they aren't intentional with their money. 

My client had a vision and we set up a roadmap of how to get there. We made adjustments along the way, but it's possible to drive a porsche and retire early. 

What's holding you back?

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I’m Derek, a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)…
I talk about uncommon financial strategies 
with a focus on helping you retire well.

Is this a red flag for you?


I am working with a client on their tax strategy and we are involving the client's accountant who is a CPA.

My client has been forwarding me emails from his CPA to include me in the discussion. 

Here is what I'm stuggling with. 

The emails from the CPA are word for word copied from Chat GPT, emojis and all. 

I use AI all the time, but I never copy and past responses to clients. 

Thoughts?

Roth IRAs can be a wonderful tax advantaged tool, but there is more to them then just put money in and get tax free money out.

There are several items to understand before saving into a Roth IRA. 

• You'll need to make sure you understand the income limits with Roth IRAs 

• It's helpful to know when you can take money of out Roth IRAs

• You want to know the pro-rata rule for backdoor Roth IRAs

• There are three different 5 year rules associated with them 

Instead of jumping in and investing, take a few minutes to understand how they work, when to use them and how you can maximize their value. 

I break these down in more detail on my YouTube channel and you can get the full video in the comments. 

___________________________________________________
I’m Derek, a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)…
I talk about uncommon financial strategies 
with a focus on helping you retire well.

A client of mine receives 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿 different types of stock as part of her compensation. 


She is offered stock options, RSUs, PSUs and and ESOP plan. 

Quite frankly, it's a lot of stock to keep track of. 

There are two main challenges she faces:

1) When one stock makes up a large portion of your overall asset mix there is concentration risk. You have a lot riding on the performance of one company. 

2) There are tax challenges that come with the various stock types as well. RSUs have different tax consequences compared to ESOP plans.  

Many executives are too busy and end up doing nothing and as a result these two issues accumulate. 

We came up with a strategy to offload 70% of her stock on a consistent basis. 

Our goal was to diversify, avoid a large future tax burden and remove emotion from the process. 

What's your stock strategy?

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I’m Derek, a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)…
I talk about uncommon financial strategies 
with a focus on helping you retire well.

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