problems we solve
Ruben Financial
tax free retirement
efficient tax planning
wealth management
assets under management
retirement income planning
long term care
estate planning
Retire Right with Ruben Financial
From inflation to catastrophic recessions, it can be scary to think about what retirement will really mean for you and your family. If you live in northeast Ohio, you have to consider how your savings, retirement accounts, and investments will hold up over the years, and whether you’re doing enough now to maximize your returns for the future. Maryann Ruben at Ruben Financial understands how daunting it can be to answer these questions, which is why she’s available to get her clients on the right track.
The Key to Retirement: Secure Monthly Income
Secure monthly income isn’t a sensational concept by any means. It’s the process of replacing your steady paycheck with money that’s every bit as reliable. It usually means going above and beyond whatever you happen to have saved in the bank. Income sources like rental checks, stock dividends, and Social Security can be pooled together, so you can cover all your daily expenses and still have enough for emergencies.
Your golden years don’t have to look like the stereotypical version of retirement. For instance, you might not want to travel the world, but instead opt for a part-time job in an industry you love. Ruben runs a boutique retirement firm precisely because she wants to understand what her clients are really searching for. She starts with your end goals and then works her way backward toward your current assets. She uses your input to map out the best strategies for you, taking into account everything from your risk tolerance to your personal preferences.
Retirement can sometimes feel like a puzzle with no clear answer. If you don’t know what’s around the corner, how can you ever really prepare? Ruben may not know everything, but she knows enough to put you on the right path to a more stable portfolio. It’s really a three-step plan that she’s honed from scratch:
1. Settle on how much you can save every month from your current income.
2. Let your financial advisor aggressively manage a portion of your wealth.
3. Enjoy your retirement without having to worry about what you’ll leave behind.
tax-free retirement
Taxes in Cleveland, Ohio, are an ingrained responsibility for most people. Whether you pay every April or every quarter, the reality is that it’s become an expense you’ve accepted. By the time you reach retirement age, you may be even less likely to question the process.
If a nearly tax–free retirement sounds like an imaginary concept, though, you should know that it’s anything but. When you have the right financial advisor by your side, you may be able to put your funds to better use once you know your options. Maryann Ruben of Ruben Financial is here to evaluate your holdings and give you tips on how to best manage your money.
Tax-Free Retirement
There are a number of tax regulations that may allow you to avoid leaving a tip for the government. This isn’t about shirking your fair share as a citizen, but about making smarter choices with your assets. For instance, you might choose to defer taxes for several years, freeing up funds to put toward investments that will ultimately earn you more money. Or you might want to set up a generous trust for the causes that you care about. Whether it’s global warming or community organizations, you have the opportunity to earmark the money so you feel comfortable about where it’s going.
A financial advisor may not be able to take the place ofan accountant, but a qualified professional can go one step further. Too many people end up overspending when they file without even realizing it, but there’s no reason to keep going down the same road if you don’t have to. Let Ruben find ways to plan your retirement, so you have enough of a financial cushion to withstand everything from inflation to emergencies. She’s here to help you find strategies today, and then update them as local, state, and federal codes change. Without having to pay as much (or potentially anything) in taxes, you’ll have enough money left for both your future and the future of your descendants.
efficient tax planning
When you think about your tax planning, you might think about whether you’re going to itemize or take the standard deduction. If you have an accountant, you might trust them to take the wheel before you file. These can all be smart strategies, but there are likely far more roads that you can take if you want to avoid paying more than you need to.
How to Strategize Your Taxes in Northeast Ohio
If you want to learn more about efficient tax planning, you might need to talk to a financial advisor. This is a professional who has seen how local, state, and federal tax codes change over the years, and how those changes can be used to your advantage.
Maryann Ruben of Ruben Financial can help you look beyond your standard process, regardless of how often you file. She’ll take into account all of the details, like your industry, bonuses, and long–term retirement plans. Whether you want to buy a second property in the next few years or keep investing in the market, your financial decisions should factor into how you structure your holdings. Charitable donations may be able to push you into a lower tax bracket, or you may be able to defer capital gains if you want to invest that money into a different venture.
Whatever it is you’re looking for, an advisor will look at your portfolio as a whole. Every investment, asset, and income source will be carefully evaluated for opportunities that you (or your accountant) may have overlooked. Unless you’re planning on reading the tax codes on your own, this is a great way to learn about how regulations and restrictions fluctuate over time, and whether all of the fine print may be able to save you thousands of dollars on your taxes.
Any questions you have, whether they’re about your taxes today or your retirement in 15 years, can all be answered in the context of your savings. Finding better strategies can mean more money in your pocket today and tomorrow.
wealth management
Wealth management is a fairly broad term for most people in Cleveland, Ohio. Unless you’re a financial professional, you may not know that asset wealth management is largely reserved for the wealthiest members of society.
However, on a basic level, its principles can be applied to nearly anyone. No matter what assets you’ve managed to accumulate, whether it’s real estate, stocks, or bonds, it’s the art of looking after each one and ensuring that your wealth is meeting your expectations. It’s just that asset and wealth management becomes more complicated as you amass your assets.
Maryann Ruben of Ruben Financial is an advisor who can keep tabs on everything you’ve invested in. If you’re getting tired of trying to sort through multiple statements or if you’ve forgotten that you even have certain irons in the fire, wealth management companies are there to sort through the numbers and start boiling it all down to concrete advice and suggestions.
How Wealth Investment Works
When you’ve managed to attain a certain level of wealth, you likely already know the basics of management. From diversifying your portfolio to efficient tax planning, an advisor’s job is not to repeat the things that you’ve learned (likely many times over by this point).
Rather, they are there to point out opportunities that you’ve missed and explain the potential risks of holding onto an account that’s stagnated over time. Because the market changes on a dime, you need an advisor who has enough time and energy to assess how your wealth is performing with each new pivot.
There’s a lot to be said for watching your investment grow over time. After all, studies show again and again that the market will rebound enough to net you a certain percentage of profits. However, if you’re not satisfied with the bare minimum, there are ways to allocate your money so that it’s performance can be optimized based on everything from the industries you favor to the time of year when you invest. It all comes down to who you ask.
assests under management
When most people start acquiring assets, whether it’s a piece of land or their first share, they tend to pay attention to their rate of return. Over time, though, they can start to lose track of what they have, what their accounts are earning, and whether there’s a better option. A financial advisor can be exactly what you need to keep your assets under control, so you don’t have to worry about stagnation or loss.
Assets Under Management Strategies in Northeast Ohio
If you live in the Cleveland area, Maryann Ruben of Ruben Financial offers assets under management services that can do more than organize and streamline your portfolio. As the market changes, she’s there to give you a heads-up about how your wealth will be affected and what you can do to protect your portfolio. This boutique retirement firm provides personalized attention, so you can build toward the life you’ve always pictured for yourself and your family.
These services are designed to conserve your wealth when the chips are down (e.g., if your largest investments have taken a tumble) and to capitalize on opportunities when they present themselves. For instance, if there’s an emerging sector that is showing tremendous promise, Ruben is there to alert you of the possibilities and to explain the pros and cons.
What you’ll find at this firm is a professional who will take the time to learn more about your investment style. Regardless of your risk tolerance, Ruben is there to navigate your assets at every step of the way. So if you have an account that’s failing to reap even a modicum of earnings, you can switch it over into an asset that will net you more. Or if you’re playing it too safe, she can push you to the edge of your comfort zone. No matter how much you make or what you want from your golden years, more management can be exactly what you need to feel secure as you inch forward towards retirement.
retirement income planning
If you live in Cleveland, Ohio, preparing for retirement may not always look the way you thought it would. Between the threat of economic factors, like inflation, and the threat of personal emergencies, like chronic illness or serious injury, it can start to feel as though you’ll never have enough to be comfortable when you reach your golden years. If you’re asking yourself how much do I need to retire, it might help to talk to a financial advisor. You can certainly attempt retirement income planning on your own, but having the right person in your corner can really make a difference.
How to Plan Your Retirement Income in Cleveland
The most trusted advice today when it comes to retirement planning boils down to secure income. When you can piece together enough of this asset before you reach retirement age, you can set yourself up for success. Functioning much like a paycheck, the income can be made up of anything from stock dividends to Social Security. Maryann Ruben of Ruben Financial is there to help you work out a more specific answer when you’re wondering,“how much to retire?” She can also help you decide the most appropriate assets for you to get there.
The principle of secure income is not unlike the principle of diversifying your portfolio. Much like you wouldn’t want to put all your investment eggs in one basket, you don’t want to rely solely on a pension or your savings. The more types of secure income you have, the more you won’t have to worry about what’s coming around the bend.
It’s important to remember that this isn’t the advice for the wealthiest among us, either. It’s a critical rule for everyone. Whether you want to live out a modest retirement working a part-time job in the music industry or travel first-class all over the world, you need money coming in every month to achieve your goals. Ruben is there to help you figure it all out, so you have everything under control well before you retire.
long-term care
What can chronic illness or serious injury mean for your retirement plans in northeast Ohio? Unfortunately, it can end up derailing some, if not all, of everything you worked to build. Most people know that the bills for medical care can quickly mount, particularly if it’s months on end of treatments, procedures, and appointments.
However, not everyone knows that there are ways to mitigate the worst of the costs. Long–Term Care (LTC) is a type of insurance policy that’s meant to offset anything that your health insurance won’t cover. This can mean anything from the transportation you need to run errands to full–time, at–home care. At Ruben Financial, you can talk to financial advisor Maryann Ruben about whether this is a smart move to protect your portfolio.
Why Buy LTC Insurance?
The main reason for footing the cost of this premium is because of the potential savings. Some studies show that a person with LTC insurance pays about six times less than someone without the policy. This is because illness and injury are so much more than just covering the costs of surgery or overnight hospital stays. You may need help with basic hygiene or chores around the house. Some people may need to live in a nursing home while they recover.
People who are suffering from chronic conditions today or who have a family history of serious medical problems may want to prepare for the possibility of needing additional care down the line. There’s even the potential to withdraw some of the money you’ve invested if you never need to file a claim.
A qualified financial advisor can give you all the facts before you take out this kind of policy. Because every insurance carrier will bake in their own terms to the policy, it’s important to understand what you’re signing up for. The premiums are typically very expensive, and not suitable for everyone. If you want to make the smartest moves to protect your golden years, Ruben is there to fill in all the blanks.
estate planning
Estate planning refers to all of the preparations an individual can make to manage their assets in the event of either incapacitation or death. This is often done with the help of an attorney, but it can also be beneficial to have a qualified financial advisor on your side.
As they look over plans and make recommendations, the goal is to limit the taxes you pay on the estate, so you have more to leave behind. Whether you have dependents or you just want to take care of the next generation’s educational expenses, an advisor will factor your wishes into how they structure your accounts. They’ll look at how the money will be distributed, how estate taxes will affect the bottom line, and who will be in charge of making decisions during a difficult time.
Smarter Estate Planning in Northeast Ohio
Ruben Financial is a boutique retirement firm that understands what better estate planning can mean for your family. Your houses, vehicles, life insurance, art collection, and pension are all assets that need to be looked after if they‘re going to yield the best possible future for loved ones.
Wills, trusts, donations—these are all part of estate planning. The key is to hammer out the details when everyone is thinking clearly, rather than leaving anything to chance. If you want your holdings to be preserved and managed properly, it helps to have people that you can trust taking care of the specifics. From naming an executor to making funeral arrangements, it’s helpful to have someone objective available to ensure nothing gets overlooked.
Whether you want to take care of a spouse or a charitable cause, Maryanne Ruben at Ruben Financial is here to help you make more informed decisions. She’ll ask questions that may not have even occurred to you to ask about your estate planning. Her goal is to ensure that no one is caught off guard in the event of an unexpected turn.