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Special Announcement - Last Chance To RSVP

Novus Financial Group has scheduled its first two seminars of 2024. The topic of these seminars is Estate Planning and our special guest speakers are John & Lorri Posani of the Posani Law Office (https://www.posanilawoffice.com). The dates of the seminars are April 2nd & 4th from 6:00 pm - 7:15 pm and they will be held at:

OSU Golf Club’s Kepler Club House (Heavy hor d’oeuvres will be provided)

Topics of these two Estate Planning Seminars include:

What estate document might be THE MOST IMPORTANT one to have

Learn about recently updated tax strategies that turn your taxable assets into tax-free assets (NOT a Roth strategy)

The estate documents you want if your child is college-bound

How to fortify your estate plan to combat the high-inflation economy

Will vs Trust: Differences and when you want one over the other

How to leverage your assets to make them work as hard as possible for your

Why documents are only ½ of the estate plan

Avoiding Probate: what it means and how to do it

How to begin the Estate Planning process

The quickest and easiest strategies that you can implement that can have a significant impact on your Estate and your Legacy

Navigating the Dual Paths of Growth & Protection in Retirement

by Eric Seyboldt 

As time marches on and we turn more pages of the calendar, the retirement phase steadily transforms from a distant dream into an immediate reality. The workforce, once brimming with youth and vigor, now stands before a financial puzzle: the intricate balancing act of growing their retirement funds while wrapping them in the cocoon of safety. This scenario is much like standing on a financial teeter-totter, where even a minor imbalance can hurl one's economic stability into a thrilling rise or a gut-wrenching fall.

At this crucial juncture, a universal truth remains—those entering their retirement years, just like anyone else, yearn for a retirement filled with financial assurance and the liberty to enjoy life's little luxuries. Nonetheless, the terrain of retirement planning is riddled with challenges such as inflation, the unpredictability of markets, and life spans that are stretching longer than in the past (longevity risk). This raises an important question: How can one find the perfect equilibrium between the necessary growth to outstrip inflation and the requisite safety for a tranquil night's sleep?

The answer lies in the concept of “asset allocation,” a strategy that might sound mundane but is far from it. Far from being about financial inoculations, it's about constructing a resilient portfolio capable of weathering market tremors and economic chills. This strategy emphasizes diversification—not only in asset types but in the tenure associated with these assets. Imagine enjoying the best of both worlds: long-term growth prospects alongside short-term, more secure investments, all while exercising the moderation befitting a retiree.

The strategy breaks down the retirement fund into various segments, each playing a unique role. The foundational layer, or the bedrock, is made up of secure, readily accessible assets for meeting immediate expenses and unforeseen costs, where stability is paramount. The intermediate layer targets consistent growth. It serves as a safeguard, ensuring the retiree’s lifestyle remains unaffected by inflation. The pinnacle layer, the dessert of the portfolio, allows for measured risks in pursuit of greater gains, resting on the assurance provided by the layers below.

In this dynamic of financial decision-making, retirees must wear the hats of both prudent guardians and daring explorers. The balance between growth and safety isn’t about choosing one path over the other, but mastering the equilibrium. The retirement years ought to be a season of plenty, a period to enjoy the bounty from a carefully cultivated financial landscape, basking in both the sunshine of growth and the shade of protection.

Thus, to all retirees and those on the cusp of retirement: may your journey on the financial teeter-totter be both thrillingly stable and liberating, ushering you into a retirement marked by calm, abundance, and a touch of delightful boldness.

Reach out to us for a complimentary, 10-minute consultation call. Let's explore together how we can help you maximize your income in retirement, ensuring your golden years are as fulfilling and worry-free as you’ve always imagined. Email Eric at [email protected] or give us a call today to schedule your consultation. Let's make your retirement dreams a reality!

Client Q & A of the Week - Out of Control Volatility!

Client: Mark, I’ve seen huge swings in my portfolio over the last several years. Now that I’m approaching retirement how do I handle the volatility in my portfolio?

Mark: Safeguarding your nest egg against market fluctuations is a common concern for those nearing the end of their working years. The period just before and shortly after stepping into retirement is critical, as severe dips in the market can significantly jeopardize your financial well-being. Below are several tactics to help shield your savings from these threats:

• Broadening Your Investment Range: It's wise to spread your investments across a variety of categories, such as equities, bonds, real estate, and perhaps even commodities. This strategy of broadening your investment range tends to minimize risk since the performance of different assets can vary in response to the same economic conditions, thereby stabilizing the effect on your overall portfolio. Consider the Real Assets that we describe in the last section of this newsletter.

• Tweaking Your Asset Mix: Drawing closer to retirement, it becomes prudent to adjust the mixture of your investments to lean more towards conservative options. This often involves a higher concentration in bonds and fixed-income securities, known for their lower volatility compared to equities. Nonetheless, the precise blend should be specifically chosen based on your comfort with risk, financial objectives, and the timing of your retirement.

• Creating a Financial Cushion: Possessing a financial cushion or a "money buffer" proves advantageous. This fund can cover daily expenses in the times market is down, enabling you to hold off on selling any investments at a depreciated value. A typical rule is to have a cash reserve that lasts between one to two years of expenses.

• Evaluating Annuities: Opting for annuities may guarantee a continuous flow of income during retirement, a reassuring factor during times of market instability. Yet, annuities carry their own fees and constraints, hence, it's vital to fully understand them before making them part of your retirement scheme.

• Portfolio Rebalancing: The practice of periodically realigning your portfolio to its initial asset mix capitalizes on the gains from assets that have performed well and reallocates to those lagging, this could lead to reduced risk and potentially higher returns as time goes on.

• Keeping Up to Date and Adaptable: The nature of markets is to be unpredictable. Keeping yourself well-informed about your investment status and remaining adaptable enough to revise your approach in reaction to major market shifts is key in safeguarding your retirement funds.

Putting these tactics into action demands careful consideration and a thorough grasp of your financial standing. It is all about discovering the appropriate equilibrium that ensures your financial security while enabling you to enjoy the retirement lifestyle you aspire to. Seeking advice from a financial consultant can offer tailor-made guidance and strategies suited to your individual situation.

Fixed annuities can be an essential component of a well-rounded retirement strategy, offering security, predictability, and efficiency in financial planning.

Here are current fixed annuity rates and their durations from Top A-rated carriers (subject to change at any time, not FDIC insured):

3-year: 5.40% to 5.70% (depending on size of initial deposit)

5-year: 5.85% to 6.15% (depending on size of initial deposit)

Please feel free to email Eric at [email protected] if you’d like to ask any questions or request information on these fixed annuities or other retirement topics that are on your mind.

REAL ASSETS, Invest Like the Ultra-Wealthy 

The Reality of “Real Assets”!

If, like many Americans, you’re looking for ways to diversify and protect your retirement savings against economic and geopolitical uncertainty this year, we have some answers for you...

Whether we’re talking about the debt ceiling worries, high inflation, high interest rates, high government spending, dollar devaluation, or overall unpredictable markets, we’re truly in a “pick your poison” situation that our nation has never experienced before.

One defensive investment strategy gaining prominence is the conversion of part of your IRA or 401(k) into physical gold or barrels of Bourbon.

Valuation of Real Assets is influenced primarily by three factors: 1) the global demand of the Real Assets, 2) the long-term interest rates of currencies and 3) the comparative value of fiat money against tangible assets.

Owing to these factors, gold tends to prosper in times when either a lax monetary policy leads to inflationary pressures or during economic downturns. Bourbon tends to prosper in any economic condition. Therefore, Real Assets are more accurately seen as safeguards against extreme financial situations in addition to a means to diversify incrementally in stable times.

Allocating funds into the asset class known as “Real Assets” may be a strategy that you should consider.

Ask us how to Rollover a portion of Your IRA or 401k To A GOLD IRA (link below) or a BOURBON IRA (www.bourbon.fund/how-it-works/) and:

• Safeguard your assets from the collapsing dollar

• Incorporate the ‘REAL ASSET’ class into your portfolio like the ultra-wealthy

• Hedge against the current high-inflation conditions

• Protect your retirement assets against economic crises

Just get in touch. We make it easier than ever.

Feedback or Questions?

You’re invited to get in touch with us if you’d like to find out how the Novus Financial Group can help you on your journey to a happy, fulfilling life in Retirement. 

We have a lot of great information, as well as podcasts from our radio show ‘The Financial Insider’, and tools on our website - www.novusfg.com.

[email protected] www.novusfg.com [email protected]

Office: 614-943-2265

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Investment advisory services are offered by duly registered individuals on behalf of CreativeOne Wealth, LLC a Registered Investment Adviser. CreativeOne Wealth, LLC and Novus Financial Group are unaffiliated entities.

The content we provide here isn’t financial advice and cannot be taken as such. Please speak to your financial advisor before making any investment decision. Also, note that every investment comes with its risks and drawbacks. Lastly, we would like to remind you that past results cannot guarantee future returns.

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